After spending the final month of last season on loan at league and cup double winners Arsenal he feels that he is now in a position to make the step up from reserve team football.
Ashdown played three times last season because of injuries to number one goalkeeper Phil Whitehead. However, he was unable to make further appearances in the first team as Pards chose to bring in Marcus Hahnemann and Ben Roberts on loan.
With the Royals recently being linked with a move to sign Hahnemann from Fulham it would appear that first team chances for the currently second choice Jamie Ashdown are likely to become more and more rare.
However, the young 'keeper is adamant that he has got a future at the club. He told Teamtalk: "I'm still learning the game, but I'm ready to take that step up if the opportunity arises.
"I played five games for Arsenal reserves and did work with Bob Wilson and David Seaman nearly every day. It was all about gaining experience and playing football at that level and it has been a great help to my confidence.
"The three first-team games I played for Reading before that were a great learning curve and I'm glad of them, but I was obviously disappointed when the manager first brought in a loan keeper.
"I have two years left on my contract and my aim is to be the number one goalkeeper here and I will take my chance if it comes. It probably won't be this season, but hopefully the following one."