Reading left-back Jordan Obita has been ruled out of his side’s clash against Leeds United after undergoing surgery today (Wednesday), it has been confirmed.
The key defender damaged his knee in a 1-1 draw with Hull City last month and had hoped his absence would not be an extended one.
But Obita’s worst fears were realised after he saw a specialist and it emerged that he had torn his anterior cruciate ligament.
The left-back, 23, has undergone surgery and the official Reading website confirmed that he will miss the rest of the season.
???? @JordanObita begins his road to recovery after undergoing reconstructive ACL surgery.
Read more here: https://t.co/WZ5L17HaZW pic.twitter.com/Fa5enj5sO0
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) October 11, 2017
“Last season he was very important for us,” Stam told the official Reading website. “At the beginning of this season he had a couple of small problems with his ankle, but he was getting fit and he was showing that in the last game he had, before he picked up the injury – he was doing very well.
“But this has happened and it’s a big shame for him and for us and for what he can bring to the team. We’re all hoping that things go very well and that he’ll be able to come back quickly. Everyone knows with these injuries that they aren’t the easiest to come back from quickly. He’ll need to take his time and we’ll be missing him for quite a while.
“He’s a positive player and a positive guy – and with an injury like this, you need to be.”
OPINION
It has been a horrible start to the season for Reading, and Obita’s injury just adds to the problems for Stam. The former England Under-21 international has made 165 appearances for the Championship outfit and was a key member of the side that was only a penalty kick away from promotion to the Premier League last season. Leeds will be encouraged that they will not have to face such a proven operator this weekend, which will be of particular benefit to regular right-sided pair Ezgjan Alioski and Luke Ayling.