Reading FC

Reading FC winger Jordan Obita
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Rising star Obita keen to sign new Reading FC deal

By Jonny Fordham
August 02, 2012

Jordan Obita has told Reading he is ready to commit his future to the club and continue his footballing education.

The 18-year-old winger has made just two appearances for Royals – both in the League Cup – but he is aiming high this season.

And with just 12 months to go on his contract, the Oxford-born teen sees his long-term future at Madejski Stadium under Brian McDermott.

The Academy graduate said: “I want to stay here – it’s a great club. There are a lot of great players here and everyone in the first-team has been good to me.

“In Portugal I was rooming with Adrian Mariappa and he went through the youth ranks at Watford and talks to me a lot.

“I want to be in the matchday squad so bad, but he told me there is always time. I know I’m young, but I want to keep pushing forward.

“Playing Premier League football will be my main challenge – trying to get into the team is my main aim.

“My ambitions are high and I want to get in there as quick as I can.”

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Obita had two loan spells last season at Barnet and then Gillingham, where he scored three times in just six appearances.

“Both spells were good and I enjoyed them,” he said.

“You have to settle in and gel quickly when you’re only at a club like Gillingham for a month.

“That experience will help me a lot for this season. Playing league games is a big difference to the reserve games I was used to.

“You’re under pressure to win points and earn your spot in the team as well.”

Another loan spell hasn’t been ruled out for now, but with manager McDermott taking him on the pre-season training camp for the second year running, Obita knows he has a great chance to impress.

But with skipper Jobi McAnuff and Hal Robson-Kanu both ahead of him in the pecking order on the left wing, the task won’t be easy.

He added: “I’m really pleased to have been picked again.

“I wasn’t really expecting to go as it’s a big squad with new signings so I knew I would have to work hard right from the start for the gaffer to pick me.

“I haven’t spoken to the manager or Nick Hammond yet about going out on loan, but that might be an option to think about after pre-season.”

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Most recent user comments 7 of 7

He should have been in "Shark Tales" with that trim though hahaha. Gwaan Jordan!

Dee Reading Man, Tilehurst, Reading
07/08/2012 at 15:03

Agreed with 1987 - Obita could well be our surprise package of the season and I certainly see him as capable of taking his chances when he gets game time, something which, sadly, Antonio has consistently failed to do. I would put Obita above Antonio in the pecking order and, for that reason, let Antonio go to Sheffield.

LarryS
04/08/2012 at 09:15

With 7 subs now listed he might just be involved in the match day squad more often than not. Even more so if Antonio was to move on to Wednesday which I think he will

Reading1987
03/08/2012 at 14:20

He might end up at a top end L1 side. This would still be progression as last year he spent 6 months at Gillingham who were playing L2 Football.

TilehurstSouthbank, Tilehurst, Reading
02/08/2012 at 12:16

I agree - has to be loaned to a championship side now so we can see what he's made of...

Any lower and he'd be better off staying with the RFC squad, playing reserves and in cup games.