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Nick Blackman has scored 15 goals in 89 league games for Reading

Reading manager Steve Clarke says striker Nick Blackman "holds all the aces" when considering a new contract.

In-form Blackman has scored nine goals in nine games for the Royals and netted his 10th strike of the season in a 1-0 win against Charlton on Saturday.

The 25-year-old's current deal is set to expire at the end of the season.

"We're just happy he's playing for Reading and he's in a rich vein of form. He's scoring goals and long may it continue," Clarke said.

"Nick's holding all the aces at the moment," Clarke added. "There's nothing you can do about these things."

Blackman arrived at the Madejski Stadium in January 2013 from Sheffield United on a three-and-a-half-year contract.

His prolific form for the Championship's joint second-placed side has already seen him exceed his goal tally from the previous two seasons.

"Nick has to take all the credit himself," Clarke said. "Players mature at different rates.

"They get confident, especially attacking players, once they start to score goals. Once they feel in a good place, their performances keep building and building.

"That's the case with Nick. No credit for me, it all goes to Nick."