Reading recall Obita from loan spell

Young winger Jordan Obita has returned his loan spell at League Two side Gillingham, despite the Gills wanting to keep him for longer.

The 18-year old has done fantastically well with Andy Hessenthaler’s side since joining last month. He scored three goals, the first goals in his professional career, in six games for the Gills, showing great prospect and potential on the left wing. Jordan also had a short loan spell at Barnet a few months ago.

Hessenthaler told the official GFC website: ‘We enjoyed the time he’s been here, he’s still only a young lad and this isn’t an easy level for an academy player to come into. In the games he played he did very well for us. He goes back to a club that are absolutely flying and I wish them well.’

The League Two outfit wanted to keep Obita after his original one-moth loan spell but Reading were keen to have the England U19 winger back among the first team squad, in what is sure to be a prosperous next few seasons for the Oxford-born midfielder.

Obita is yet to make a league appearance for the Royals, despite being named on the bench on some occasions. However, he did start in this season’s Carling Cup loss at Charlton. Jordan was also nominated for Football League Championship Apprentice of the Year Award, but was narrowly beaten to it by Coventry’s Gael Bigirimana.