JORDAN Obita will play no further part for Reading FC this season following reconstructive knee surgery.

The 23-year-old full-back badly injured his knee in the dying moments of Royals' 1-1 home draw with Hull City on September 23.

Obita slid off the Madejski Stadium playing surface and onto the running track before crashing into advertising hoardings.

He was treated on the side of the pitch by the club's medical staff after the final whistle before being carried off on a stretcher.

Reading wanted to give Obita as long as possible to recover before assessing the long-term damage.

But scans confirmed the worst and the Oxford-born ace was forced to have reconstructive surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament earlier this week.

Reading Chronicle:

Jordan Obita is stretchered off at the end of the match against Hull City last month.

Reading released a statement this morning declaring Obita, who signed a new three-year deal in August, will play no further part this season.

But the player is staying upbeat, vowing to 'get back stronger'.


Obita's position is likely to be taken by former Manchester United defender Tyler Blackett.

The news will be a blow to Jaap Stam who is already missing several key players like Yann Kermorgant and John Swift for Saturday's tough trip to Leeds United (3pm).

Reading have not won in five Championship matches and have slipped to 20th in the table.

  • Reading FC released the following statement regarding Jordan Obita's injury:

"Royals defender Jordan Obita has undergone reconstructive surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament, and is now recovering well.

The 23-year-old full back – who has 166 first team appearances to his name in a Royals shirt since graduating from our Academy – sustained the injury in the final moments of our home fixture against Hull City last month.

The injury means that Jordan will be unavailable for selection for the remainder of our 2017-18 campaign as he now begins the road to recovery.

However, he is typically eager to embark on his rehabilitation as soon as possible and in a positive frame of mind about the hard work ahead in the coming weeks and months.  

In the safe hands of our experienced sports medicine and physiotherapy team, everyone at Reading Football Club will be supporting Jordan throughout his recovery, and we all look forward to seeing him return to action in blue and white hoops as soon as possible."