This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Regular Punter’ series, where we gather original opinions from select, passionate fans of the clubs concerned on matters surrounding their team and share them with a wider audience…

Football League World's Reading fan pundit Harry Chafer has summed up the collective feelings of the Royals faithful after long-term injury absentee Jordan Obita made his long awaited return from his injury hell back in September. 

The 25-year-old Royals academy product had been sidelined for almost two years with various knee problems, meaning his last game for the club before this season was the Championship play-off final back in 2017.

Obita is naturally a popular figure at the Madejski Stadium, with the versatile wide man having rose through the youth ranks before going on to make over 150 appearances for the Berkshire based outfit, scoring five goals and assisting a further 18.

Given the impact Obita has made during his time at the club, it was perhaps unsurprising to hear Chafer speak of his joy after the club stalwart made his timely return to action earlier this season, with our fan pundit stating:

"The fans are loving him being back.

"All fanbases love an academy product, and the Reading fans are no different.

"Jordan has been at the club since he was 8 and has gone through all the ups and downs we have been through over the years as a club and of course, he's had his own personal ups and downs in more recent years, too.

"Thankfully though, he has returned fit, strong and ready to try and help us keep climbing the table."

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Chafer was also quick to talk up the importance of having the 25-year-old fully fit once more, with our fan pundit saying the following:

"He is very important in my opinion.

"He loves the club and knows the club inside out, and players like that are rare to come by in this day and age. 

"Speaking more in terms of tactically and football-wise, he also fits the 5-3-2 formation perfectly. 

"He used to be a left winger and was dropped back into left back under Nigel Adkins, so he has always had that natural instinct to attack and go forward.

"This, on paper, means he should be perfect for the wing-back role that Bowen, and Gomes before him, preferred to use."

It is fair to say that Obita's return to action has been greatly received both in the changing rooms and in the stands, and it will have provided a timely boost for the club at a time in which they are in a big period of transition following the departure of Gomes.