READING FC boss Jaap Stam has an ever-growing fanbase in British football – none more so that Brighton & Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton.

Hughton admits he has been “hugely impressed” by the Dutchman's impact at Madejski Stadium since Stam took on his first managerial role last summer.

Stam, who is being linked with the vacant hotseat at Leicester City following Claudio Ranieri's sacking yesterday, has guided Royals to fourth in the Championship table despite the uncertainty of another potential takeover lurking in the back ground.

Reading are not out of the automatic promotion race either and will be looking to reduce an eight point gap between themselves and second-placed Brighton when they clash at the Amex tomorrow night (5.30pm ko, live Sky Sports).

And Hughton has nothing but praise for the major rebuilding work that has taken place under Stam.

He said: "I have been hugely impressed by the manager and what he has done this season.

“They play a style of football that is very expansive.

"From the start of the season, where perhaps there were some frustrations with that, he's built a philosophy that's got stronger and stronger, so absolute credit to the manager.”

Eleven loan players left Reading last summer leaving Stam no option but to rebuild his squad with 11 new faces.

He also added five new players in the January transfer window after Tiago Ilori and Adrian Pope joined on permanent deals while Lewis Grabban, Jordon Mutch and Reece Oxford Stam arrived on loan deals.

Hughton also told the Brighton Argus: “They've got very good players and sometimes when you are embarking on a new system, particularly an expansive system, you have got to have good players to be able to get the results that you want.

“They absolutely deserve to be where they are."

Stam will be targeting a play-off spot at the very least this season with Royals eight points ahead of seventh-placed Fulham, although they have played one game more.

Royals also saw their six-match unbeaten run come to an end in a 1-0 defeat at third-placed Huddersfield Town on Tuesday night.

Stam will be boosted by the return of fit-again skipper Paul McShane and Joey van den Berg, though Saturday's clash will come too soon for Callum Harriott, Deniss Rakels and Ilori.