JAAP Stam harbours high hopes for Reading FC forward Yakou Meite despite withdrawing him from the field 45 minutes into his first league start of the season on Easter Monday.

Former Paris Saint-Germain starlet Meite, 21, was called up to the Royals’ starting XI for the first time this season against Rotherham, but only played the first-half.

However, his short cameo showed spells of promise, most notably when he came inches away from latching onto a glorious cut-back in the six-yard box and then nearly lobbing Rotherham United keeper Richard O'Donnell with a cross-shot.

Royals’ boss Stam insisted he was pleased with the Ivorian’s first-half performance, but said he withdrew him at half-time for tactical reasons.

Reading were 1-0 down at the time of the change, which saw fellow youngster Liam Kelly introduced into the heart of the midfield.

The switch proved a positive one with Reading eventually overcoming already-relegated Rotherham to win 2-1, but Stam suggested Royals’ fans could see a lot more of Meite in the future.

“Yakou is a young and talented player,” declared Stam.

“He needs to learn a lot though.

“We bought him off for a tactical reason against Rotherham.”

“We wanted to have Roy Beerens on to the wing and then we put Liam Kelly into the number six position.”

Meite joined the Royals from PSG in July 2016.

He made his first appearance for the club in an EFL cup game against Plymouth Argyle and scored his first goal with a bullet header in the 3-2 defeat away at Derby County.