LEAVING one of Europe’s biggest clubs is a tough decision to make for any player, but Reading FC’s John Swift was adamant he made the right call after giving his new side a 1-0 Championship win at home to Preston North End, writes Courtney Friday.

Swift’s Royals’ career got off to a flyer on Saturday when he notched the first-half winner, the new signing finding himself on the end of a training ground corner routine when he fired the ball into the top corner.

The hosts had numerous chances in the first half and should have put the game to bed before half-time, but Preston put upon a late fight-back and Reading had to dig their heels in to claim their first win of the season.

Swift, who joined the Royals from Premier League side Chelsea during the summer transfer window, said he was thrilled to score his first goal forfrom the club and he is hoping for more to come.

“It is a great start for me to get off the mark with the goal and to win the game as well,” asserted Swift (pictured right), 21.

“It is a good boost for me to start the season but the whole team was behind everything. We all dug in and played the way we want to play and got the result.”

The Royals dominated the game at the Madejski Stadium on a scorching hot Saturday afternoon, and looked comfortable playing football under Stam’s new 4-3-3 system.

Swift’s goal came with 35 minutes played after a low corner from winger Garath McCleary caught the Preston defence napping, giving the midfielder the chance to rifle the ball in to the back of the net.

Swift, who had squandered a similar opportunity just moments before, addedcontinued: “We weren’t sure if we were going to try that in games. The way they set up, it looked obvious that we were going to do it.

“It hasn’t come off like that in training – it is the first time I have scored. It was a good call.”

Swift, who spent last season on loan at Championship rivals Brentford, added Stam was a big factor in his decision to leave Chelsea and come to Reading.

He said he felt the decision to join the Royals was the best way to develop and move forward in his career, adding: “It was right for my career to go and play first-team football somewhere competitively in one of the most biggest leagues in the world.

“For me to get minutes under my belt against men, I think it was the right choice and hopefully I can keep building on my game and getting better.

“It was a big decision for me to go away from Chelsea. I have been there since I was really young. It was a big decision for me and my family but at the end of the day, it came down to my career.

“My career comes first so I wanted to go out and play first-team football. I did it for half a season at Brentford so I knew I could play at this level. I am glad I came and glad I got off the mark with a goal.”

Swift revealed new Royals boss Stam was quick to congratulate the players for a perfect start to the new campaign.

He continued: “He just congratulated everybody really. It was such a nervous start at the start of a big season so he congratulated us mainly for the first-half performance.

“We did really well in the first half. Second half was a bit less of how we want to play but sometimes games go like that. But he congratulated us and said it was a good performance.”