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Michael Hector wants to return to Reading and realise his dream – but only if he can join up with Nigel Adkins’ first- team squad.

The talented defender has spent the first half of the season on loan at Aberdeen and has been earning rave reviews in Scotland.

And with Royals in the midst of a defensive injury crisis, supporters have been calling for the 21-year-old to be recalled early.

That can’t happen, however, due to the nature of his loan deal with the Dons, but his sixth-month spell in the SPL is due to expire on January 5.

Hector says a return to Madejski Stadium is an appealing option.

“If I get a chance to play at Reading then that would be great for me,” he said.

“To play for them is obviously my goal so we’ll see what happens in January.

“Playing for the first team is the reason I’ve been going out on loan. That’s why I’ve been trying to get so much experience. It’s getting to the stage now where it’s really close. It’s just about getting that breakthrough.”

Hector added: “I’m confident I can play at Championship level.

“I’ve trained with the squad and I feel I fit in with them.

“I feel I can give a bit more as well if I get that chance. But it’s down to Reading really.”

Having made the bold decision to head up to Scotland in the summer, Hector (right) is loving life at Pittodrie.

The centre-back says he has matured during the six months he has been away from Reading.

He’s certainly had to grow up fast on the field, where he has come up against very physical opposition in the SPL.

And it’s facing those sort of opponents each week which Hector insists has made him into a much better player than the one that arrived in July.

“You’re playing week in, week out and it’s competitive football,” he said.

“It’s not the same as playing in a reserve game where there’s no real atmosphere.

“Obviously here there’s 13,000 weekly and you go away and play at Celtic in front of 50,000.

“It’s a good experience and you get better as a player playing under that sort of pressure.”

It’s that exact reason why Hector remains cautious about a return to Royals next month.

He added: “I’m really enjoying it here and I’m playing week in, week out.

“I think it will be frustrating if I come back to Reading and sit on the bench or play reserve games again. Once you get first-team football it’s hard to go back to playing in the reserves.

“So it would be tough to come back and just sit around, but if Reading want me to come back then that’s their choice.”

With his loan deal now running out, Reading and Aberdeen have started talks about Hector’s future.

Royals boss Nigel Adkins recently declared the club had not yet decided what to do with the defender.

He said: “Our director of football Nick Hammond will be in contact with Aberdeen.

“We’ll decide whether we recall him, he stays or he goes somewhere else.

“It’s about Michael’s development, that’s what important. It’s pleasing he’s getting games up there.”

Hector said: “The gaffer (Derek McInnes) here has told me to take it game by game and when it gets to January it will sort itself out.

“It’s down to Reading and Aberdeen to sit down and talk about what’s going to happen.”