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Ryan Edwards has become the first casualty of Reading’s expected summer cull after he revealed he will not be getting a new contract.

Having spent the 2013/14 season on loan with A-League side Perth Glory in his native Australia, the 21-year-old returned to England last year and enjoyed a fine pre-season under former boss Nigel Adkins.

He scored the winner in the first friendly of the summer at Exeter and was the stand-out performer in the games building up to opening Championship game of the campaign at Wigan.

Edwards started that clash at the DW Stadium and went on to feature in 10 matches before falling down the pecking order as the season progressed. He last team appearance came in the 3-1 defeat at Brentford in October.

The attacking midfielder, whose current deal expires in just a couple of months time, has never featured under Steve Clarke and has now revealed he has been told his future lies elsewhere.

“My main goal is to play first team football,” he said. “Where that takes me I’m not sure.

“I’d love to stay in Europe. I’m in England now, so I may as well stay here and stick it out.

“My next move is so important. I’m 21, turning 22 in late November. I can’t be treated as a reserve player or a squad player. I need to be in that squad of 16 where I’m going to be in the team every week.”

The Australia Under-23s international is one of several Reading players who are entering the final couple of months of their contracts, others include captain Jem Karacan, who has urged the club to make a decision on his future .

Edwards' sudden breakthrough last summer took everyone by surprise, including the player himself.

Having spent the previous year back in Australia, he returned to England with the hope of forcing his way into Nigel Adkins’ plans.

But the speed at which he managed it was far from expected.

“I came back on loan from Perth and Adkins threw me straight in,” he said.

“I started every pre-season game and then a week later he started me in the first game of the season in the Championship and I was absolutely buzzing.

“I came back from the loan with a goal to make it into the first team, I didn’t know how soon it was going to happen. Then it happened straight away, I was happy, I kept working hard and I ended up playing a few games.”

Edwards added: “I walked out on the pitch at Wigan and the first 20 minutes was probably the quickest game of football that I’ve ever been a part of, but you get that first touch, that first pass off and you settle as the game goes on.

“I kind of just suited it straight away, I felt really comfortable and really confident.

“It’s always nice when the manager starts you in the first game of the season. It gives you that confidence and belief to go out there and play your own game. It was really enjoyable and I loved it.”

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