Reading legend Mick Gooding believes 16-year-old Andre Garcia can 'be whatever he wants to be' as the teenager makes a strong impression with the first-team.

Breaking through during pre-season, the youngster has made eight appearances and became the club's youngest league starter for over 35 years in Tuesday's 3-1 win over Burton Albion.

Gooding, who made over 300 appearances for the club in the 1990s before enjoying a stint as player-manager, has won more Player of the Season awards than any other player in the club's history.

A pundit for BBC Radio Berkshire for over 15 years, not many have seen as many Royals matches than the fan favourite.

"His future is in his own hands- he can be whatever he wants to be," Gooding told BBC Radio Berkshire. "To be 16 and playing the way he is playing is incredible.

(Image: ©Jason Dawson)

"He looks as if he is that sort of calibre [Omar Richards]. I believe he has played left-back more than he has further up the field but what a future he has got and it’s in his hands if he listens and works hard. He has got pace, great feet and he never got outpaced by anybody on Tuesday. You can see he is really enjoying what he is doing, not fazed by it.

"He has got an incredible future, should he decide that it is what he wants to do. Work hard, stay humble and do the right things. He can go wherever he wants."

Richards famously played over 100 times for Reading at left-back before earning a move to giants Bayern Munich, now playing in Portugal on loan from Premier League Nottingham Forest.

Garcia was perhaps fortunate not be be shown his first professional red card on Saturday after shoving Rotherham United defender Joe Rafferty during a 2-1 defeat in South Yorkshire.

Forward Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan was sent off instead for his involvement.