Dev Squad set for Royals clash

West Ham United's Development Squad take on Reading in their latest Barclays U21 Premier League fixture on Monday evening.

The Hammers travel to Basingstoke Town FC for the 7pm kick-off, with Nick Haycock's men looking for a second straight win after seeing off Southampton last week.

After victories for the first team and U18s over the weekend, Haycock would love to complete the hat-trick against Reading. With a number of Development Squad regulars currently out on loan, the U21s boss will again hand chances to impress to a number of the Club's in-form Academy starlets.

Those scholars, who went top of the Barclays U18 Premier League on Saturday with victory over Fulham, will be joined by the likes of Switzerland U21 international goalkeeper Raphael Spiegel, Dan Potts, Danny Whitehead, Leo Chambers, Blair Turgott, Elliot Lee and Sebastian Lletget.

"It's a very similar squad to the one which played in the last game against Southampton," Haycock confirmed. "The idea is to bring through young players and blood them at U21 level, while creating a winning mentality that they carry into the first-team squad or when they go out on loan to Football League clubs.

"A number of the 19 to 21-year-olds having played regularly before Christmas have now caught the eye of the manager or Football League scouts and gone out on loan. The spaces created give a chance for the younger players to continue their development and do likewise.

"The youth team have certainly established a strong will to win this season. The youth-team players have been performing well this season and they will be champing at the bit to do well again when we face Reading. There is certainly every incentive for the players to want to perform well."

Victory tonight would take West Ham back into the top four. At the season's end, the leading four clubs will play-off for the overall Barclays U21 Premier League title. 

Tickets for Monday's fixture at Basingtoke Town are priced at £3.