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The Royals' John Swift is EFL Young Player Of January, it was announced today.
The 21-year-old midfielder has scored 8 goals in 29 appearances in all competitions this season. He scored three in January as Jaap Stam's side claimed four victories from six matches.
- "I had to get into the run of things again, but I came into a @ReadingFC team firing."
— EFL (@EFL) February 28, 2017
The #EFL's Young Player of January, @JohnSwift8. pic.twitter.com/Cd1Ku33bm6
Speaking to the EFL, Swift said:
“Of course I’m pleased. Credit has to go to the whole team as well for recent performances, but for me personally I’m pleased to win the award and help the team continue the good run that we’re on.
“It was quite hard coming back from injury and getting back into the swing of things, but I came back into a team that was already firing.
“Awards are nice but the whole team is the most important thing. We are still up there and still pushing for promotion which is the aim.”
This comes after the midfielder missed six matches over the course of November and December due to a Malleolar injury, but he evidently quickly found his stride.
The former Chelsea man joined Reading from Chelsea on a free transfer last summer and has become a key player in the Royals' midfield, providing spark and goals in a team that dominates possession but struggles to break down teams.