Reading manager Noel Hunt believes “the sky is the limit” for Andre Garcia after the 17-year-old’s late goal snatched Reading a 1-1 Skybet League One draw at Bolton.
Substitute Garcia became the Royals’ second youngest league scorer with his 84th-minute leveller after Mason Burstow put Wanderers in front after 52 minutes.
Bolton should have been out of sight before Garcia struck with the aid of a deflection off George Johnston. However, only four of their 21 shots were on target.
“Andre has great potential,” said grateful Hunt after Reading earned their first point and scored only their second goal of the campaign.
“He has to keep working hard because potential will only go so far. Hard work and talent will keep you in the door.
“We have got to keep him grounded, keep him honest and make sure he is doing the right things.
“As long as he doesn’t get carried away he has a big future.”
Reading had lost 5-2 on their two previous visits, with Hunt admitting: “It is an incredibly tough place to come so we knew it would be a tough game.
“So, for us to dig in and carve out a draw I am really pleased.
“I thought we had a five or eight-minute spell (before the goal) when we were in and around it.
“When you are in and around it you have a chance of making something happen especially with the players we have at that top end.
“So, to get that goal is really important in terms of the league, for a 17-year-old to do it.
“He was brave enough to get in there and work a bit of magic to get his shot off.”
Bolton boss Steven Schumacher was frustrated to miss out on the win after a second successive 1-1 league draw.
“We can’t play that well and not win,” he said. “We did it a few times last season and we want to avoid that again.
“We felt we did well enough and did a lot of good stuff and controlled it for 80 minutes out of the 90.
“But we shot ourselves in the foot by not being clinical enough and not hitting the target enough from all our good play.
“When you are so dominant you have got to score. We got into good areas and produced some chances and created big shooting opportunities.
“From their second shot on target they get a bit of good fortune that costs us two vital points.
“Once they scored, we got going again and started passing the ball again so it was frustrating.”
