Reading have drawn Newport County and Cheltenham Town in the EFL Trophy group stages this season, which sets up just a second meeting with the Amber Army since the promotion-winning campaign of 1985/86.

A decade ago, Nigel Adkins' youthful side knocked the League Two outfit of the League Cup with a 3-1 victory at the Madejski Stadium.

With a lot of change in the last decade, take a look below at the team that ran out in front of over 6,500 supporters that evening.

Alex McCarthy- Southampton

One of six Academy graduates starting last time out against Newport, McCarthy spent almost the entirety of his post-Reading career in the Premier League. On the books at QPR and Crystal Palace, he made Southampton his home for the last eight years. Starting all three play-off games last season, the former England international is back in the big time at 34.

Shaun Cummings- Retired

A title winner with Reading in 2012, Cummings remained with the club until 2015 before remaining in the second tier with Millwall. Short spells with Rotherham United and Doncaster Rovers followed before retiring shortly after.

(Image: PA)

Alex Pearce- Unattached

A club legend who spent seven years as a first-team regular with Reading, Pearce captained the club to the FA Cup semi-final at the end of 2014/15 before moving on at the end of his contract. Skippering Derby County, Millwall and AFC Wimbledon since, the 35-year-old left Plough Lane this month.

Sean Morrison-Rotherham United

Within three days of walking out against Newport, Morrison would follow them back across the river into Wales, ending up at Cardiff City for the next nine years. Making over 300 appearances for the Bluebirds, the centre-back left only last year and is at Rotherham United, hoping to help them back into the Championship at the first time of asking.

Chris Gunter- Retired

Signing back in 2012 from Nottingham Forest, Gunter gave eight years of consistent service to Reading and racked up over 300 club appearances. Departing in 2020, the highest-capped Welsh international of all time had spells with Charlton and Wimbledon before retiring to take on a coaching role with the national team.

Nick Blackman-Retired

Scorer of the second goal of the evening, Blackman played over 100 times for the club in a three-year stint but will be best known for a 28-game period in 2015/16 where he scored 13 of his 22 club goals. Earning him a big-money move to Derby County, his form dipped, and the forward has since played in Spain and Israel.

Jake Taylor- Eastleigh

Tipped for big things after breaking into the team in 2014/15, the Academy graduate scored three goals in 36 appearances for his boyhood club but was deemed surplus to requirements in 2016. Exeter City, a club he had previously spent time with on loan, snapped him up and the midfielder was a near ever-present for the next five years as he totalled 263 appearances for the Grecians. Two years, and another promotion, followed with Stevenage and the 31-year-old moved to National League Eastleigh last summer. He featured for the Spitfires last season as they knocked Reading out of the FA Cup.

Michael Hector- Unattached

Another product of the youth system, Hector had to learn his trade on 11 loan spells before becoming a regular in 2014/15. Impressing under Steve Clarke, the defender moved to Chelsea in 2015 before immediately returning for the 2015/16 campaign. Enjoying an EFL career ever since, featuring for the likes of Fulham, Hull City and Sheffield Wednesday, Hector had a period training with the club under Paul Ince but was most recently at Charlton until last month.

Jordan Obita- Hibernian

Player of the Season for his breakout in 2013/14, winger-turned-full-back Obita played nearly 200 times for the club and was on the books in Berkshire for nearly 20 years. Let go in 2020, the 30-year-old had a short spell with hometown club Oxford United before nailing down a starting berth at Wycombe Wanderers. Former Reading boss Brian McDermott took him to Edinburgh while Director of Football at Easter Road and he won Player of the Season in his debut campaign.

Simon Cox- Retired

A youngster looking to break through during the club’s golden period under Steve Coppell, the striker made nine appearances between 2006 and 2009 but was unable to dislodge the likes of Kevin Doyle, Dave Kitson or Leroy Lita. Impressing across all four tiers with the likes of Swindon and West Brom, the Republic of Ireland international made an emotional homecoming in 2014. Top scoring in 2014/15 with eight goals, he departed in 2015 with nine goals in 60 appearances. Far from over upon exiting the club for a second time, he recorded nearly 200 appearances for Southend United in four years and had a spell in Australia. Retiring in 2021, the 37-year-old runs a gym.

Pavel Pogrebnyak- Retired

The statement signing after winning promotion to the Premier League in 2012, the Russian international scored 26 goals in 103 appearances for the Royals. The last of his goals came against Newport, opening the scoring in the 20th minute. The 40-year-old continued playing until 2021.