Reading FC playmaker John Swift admitted he is desperate to achieve some consistency this year after a flying start to the season, writes Courtney Friday.

The Ex-Chelsea midfielder, who joined Reading in 2016, enjoyed a stellar start to life in Berkshire but niggling injuries and a dip in form saw his progress stagnate.

But Swift, 24, seems to have rejuvenated himself under Jose Gomes and a string of eye-catching performances has seen supporters praise the former England Under 21 international. He created more chances than any other Championship player in the 3-0 win against Cardiff (seven) and got on the scoresheet himself with a stunning breakaway goal.

Swift said: “The way I play, if I’m playing well I play with confidence and I always try to do things to help the team.

“I try to create chances and today it was one of the good days where it came off.

“Every player like me will try and create chances, if it doesn’t come off it doesn’t mean I’m going to stop doing it.

“It might not have come off as much as I wanted it to last season but hopefully this season I’ll be able to get more consistency.

“It’s always good to get on the scoresheet and we could have scored more at the end of the game. It was tough at the beginning but we dealt with the way Cardiff played and came out on top.

“I was looking at Yakou, honestly, but the defender came across and stopped the pass. Every defender in that situation would do the same and it made me go one-on-one with the keeper. I’m just glad I put it in the net.”

Reading kick-started their season with the superb 3-0 win at Madejski Stadium on Sunday, courtesy of Swift and a George Puscas brace.

And Swift admitted he was in awe of Royals’ record-breaking centre-forward.

He continued: “It was a great solo goal. I saw clips of him before he came and he’s done that many times before. Hopefully it’s something we can get used to.

“He’s a top-quality striker. That’s why the club brought him here. Him and Lucas Joao are linking up really well up top.

“Then we’ve got players like Lucas Boye and Yakou Meite to come on so we’re looking really strong in attack at the moment.

“We need to gel together and hopefully more wins will come.”