Wisconsin Soccer Central

Andrija Novakovich (Muskego) has been a regular for the Reading FC Under-21 team since signing with the English club in summer 2014, and his performances at the youth level helped him earn two appearances in the Championship last season.

The 19-year-old striker hasn't been able to work his way into any first-team matches this season, but will look to get a run of games under his belt over the next month after being loaned to National League club Cheltenham Town on Thursday.

"Like most of our young players, Andrija will benefit from a spell out on loan," Reading manager Steve Clarke said in a news release announcing the loan, which runs until at least Jan. 2.

"He has always shown a good level of ability since I came to the club last December, but now needs the extra demands that will be put on him by competitive league football at Cheltenham Town. We will be following Andrija's progress with interest and look forward to seeing how he handles this stage of his development."

Cheltenham Town (12-2-8) leads the National League, which previously was known as the Conference Premier and is the fifth tier of English soccer behind the Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two. Approximately half of the 24 National League clubs are fully professional, while the others are semi-professional. The Robins were relegated from League Two last season, ending their run of 16 consecutive seasons in the Football League.

Novakovich, a U.S. youth international who has two goals and two assists in seven appearances for Reading in Under-21 Premier League Division 1 play this season, is expected to be in contention for a spot in the squad for Saturday's away match against Aldershot Town.

"We have been keeping an eye on him to see when he's ready, and we feel that he's ready now to come in to our squad to give us another option. He can play No. 10, he can play No. 9, so he gives us a couple of options," said Cheltenham Town manager Gary Johnson, a veteran Football League and Non-League manager. "He's an athletic boy that's very fit. Being American, he's a competitive lad as well, which is good. So we're really pleased that we've got that other string to our bow, if you like, up until January.

"He's 6-foot-2, 6-foot-3, but he's a good runner with the ball. If people have a look at his YouTube stuff, which often people do, you can see he's a good, athletic player."

Two of Novakovich's former teammates in the Reading youth academy also play for the Robins: defenders Rob Dickie, who also is on loan from the Royals, and George McLennan.

On Twitter: @AndrijaNovakov3