Reading Academy Manager Eamonn Dolan predicts an exciting evening of football when our boys take on Preston in the FA Youth Cup this Friday evening.

The game kicks off at Madejski Stadium at 7pm, and entry is only £3 adults and £1 concessions.

The Royals have a good recent record in the competition, having gone out to eventual winners Liverpool and Manchester City in the past two seasons.

Dolan told readingfc.co.uk, "This is a fantastic tournament. There's pressure, which is good, and everyone goes out to win. It's exciting and always something to look forward to.

"We might not have a settled team or a great team at the moment, that's down to myself and the changes that I choose to make on a regular basis.

"Every year you start from scratch and our make-up this year is very different. The team can be unbalanced, we've got square pegs in round holes because I believe there are players with potential. As an example we've lots of strikers who all need game time.

"But we've got better recently and now we want to show there are good players here who can handle the pressure and do what's required to get close to the first team.

"The Youth Cup is the platform and an opportunity to show relevant people that they've got a chance of making it.

"We want to win, we'll plan and prepare like the first team would and we'll find out about the boys, how can they handle the pressure and cope.

"We have a similar setup to Preston, they're competing with Man Utd and Man City, we're competing with Chelsea and Arsenal. We know they'll be a very difficult side to play and one that wants to win."