JORDAN Obita could make his Reading FC return against Bristol City this Saturday (3pm ko).

Royals’ left-back has been recovering from a persistent ankle injury he first picked up against Fulham in the Championship play-off semi final first leg in May.

But the 23-year-old – who was one of several players to agree a new, long-term deals this summer – has returned to full training with the rest of the Royals team.

Obita is now pushing for a place in Jaap Stam’s squad for this weekend’s clash at Madejski Stadium.

Royals boss said: “Jordan is getting back to match fitness, he trained with the squad yesterday (Wednesday) and he’s looking very good.”

A fortnight’s international break has done Reading’s injured players a power of good.

Yann Kermorgant is stepping up his fitness following hip and groin surgery and could be available within a couple of weeks.

England Under 21 midfielder John Swift is also making good progress from a hamstring problem he suffered in the defeat at Preston North End last month.

Reading Chronicle:

Royals midfielder John Swift limps out of the Championship match at Preston last month.

Stam explained: “Yann will be a couple of weeks. Everything went well after the operation and he feels okay.

“It may take a while to get match fitness because he hasn’t been playing a lot.

“Running outside is a little bit different to playing games so it will be another couple of weeks.

“The physios are very positive about Swifty. He’ll join in with the group the end of this week so it’s very promising.”

This Saturday Reading will be looking to build on their 2-0 victory at Birmingham City before the international break when Jon Dadi Bodvarsson netted his first goal for the club followed by a late second from George Evans.

Royals are unbeaten in 13 matches at Madejski Stadium including last season’s play-offs and host Lee Johnson’s Robins who have won just one of their five opening league games, compared to Reading’s two.

Stam continued: “We played very well at Birmingham, it was a good result.

“It would be nice to have kept the momentum going but these last two weeks have been very important for us in getting everybody back and making the squad as big as we can so we have a lot of choices to make.

“It’s also important for the new players to get used to things and to learn what we expect of them.

“Now after this break we start fresh again, we have a lot of options and hopefully we can perform well again.”

Sone Aluko, who joined Royals from Fulham for a club-record fee last week, could make his debut this Saturday.