One to Watch – John Swift

Name: John Swift
Date of Birth: 23/06/1995
Previous clubs: Chelsea, Rotherham (L), Swindon Town (L), Brentford (L).
Apps (goals): 64 (13)

Like many youngsters that come through the Chelsea academy, midfielder John Swift cut his ties with the club permanently in the summer in the hope of regular first-team football elsewhere, signing for Reading on an initial three-year deal, and life at the Berkshire club couldn`t have got off to a better start for the 21-year-old.

11 league games into the campaign and the Royals sit in eighth spot, with Swift playing a key role in their strong start, notching three league goals so for Jaap Stam`s men, wasting no time in opening his account for the club on his debut by bagging the only goal in a 1-0 home win over Preston on the first day of the season.

His impressive displays have quickly endeared him to the club`s fans, seeing him named Reading`s player of the month for August and September, and he heads to Loftus Road brimming with confidence, having netted the opener for the England under 21 side in a 5-0 win over Bosnia on Tuesday with a superb long-range effort.

After making his only appearance for Chelsea on the final day of the 2013/2014 season, coming on to replace Eden Hazard for the final few moments of their match at Cardiff, Swift began the following campaign on loan at Championship side Rotherham, where he turned out four times in all competitions in a three-month spell.

The loan had initially been confirmed for the entire season, but having struggled to break into the Milers` starting line-up, the Blues cut short his spell at the New York Stadium due to lack of game time.

Shortly after his return to West London, he was on the move again, this time to League One with Swindon Town for the second half of the season, and it was at the County Ground where he was given his first opportunity to cut his teeth in the professional game, as he turned out 19 times for the Robins in all competitions, scoring twice.

Having helped the side to a Play-Off final decider with Preston North End, Swift had to watch on from the sidelines for the Wembley showpiece owing to injury, as Mark Cooper`s men finished on the wrong end of a 4-0 thrashing, with the Swindon side including both Massimo Luongo and Ben Gladwin.

After three months without first team action at the beginning of last term, Swift made the short move across the capital to Brentford, joining at the beginning of October, initially on a one-month loan deal, which was eventually extended until the end of the season having impressed in the Bees` midfield prior to the New Year.

Swift finished his spell at Griffin Park as the club`s joint third-highest goalscorer with seven league goals in 34 Championship outings for Dean Smith`s men, and having shown his capabilities in the second tier last term, Stam moved to bring the midfielder to the Madejski Stadium following end of his youth contract at Chelsea.