OLA JOHN is hoping Reading fans can finally start to see the best he has to offer.
The Dutch winger has had to be patient since arriving at the club on a season-long loan from Benfica, but finally appears to be reaping the rewards.
Having impressed when coming off the bench, boss Brian McDermott handed John a start during the recent 1-0 win over Rotherham United, where he did enough to keep his place in the side for last Saturday’s 4-3 victory over Charlton Athletic, where he scored one and set up another at The Valley.
As the player pointed out, it is the first time he has started successive games for Royals since making the switch from Portugal – but he is now hoping to nail down a place in the starting XI.
He said: “I’m not quite there yet. I just played two games and hope I can stay in the team.
“I have to show myself every week and every day, of course, and I have had to be patient because this is this first time I have played two games in a row, so if I can keep playing games I can prove myself because I know I can do more.”
John will be hoping his name is on the team sheet once again when Fulham come to town – a team he knows only too well as it is the former club of his brother, Collins John, who is now his sibling’s agent.
“We have already played against them this season (losing 4-2) and it was not a great experience,” added John.
“We were 2-0 up, but they scored three goals in six minutes, so we have to make up for that and I think we can.
“We are playing at home and I hope it is going to be OK.”
Royals also head into the game looking to record a third straight win in the Championship, while also preserving an unbeaten run on home soil which now stretches to eight games.
John said: “I think we have a good team, great players and the atmosphere (within the camp) is always good.
“And if you win games things are only going to be better.
“I hope we can stay winning like this.”
Despite the majority of his 24 appearances coming as a substitute, John revealed he is happy at the club, and would be willing to extend his stay in Berkshire should the opportunity to do so arise.
“I only have one year left at Benfica,” the player explained.
“I don’t know what Benfica wants from me but I didn’t talk with them about next year, I think we will do that in the summer and have to see what happens and what Reading can do, of course.
“I’m happy here – also now because I’m playing, but it is a nice club, Reading, I like the fans and everything is positive.”
Boss McDermott will most likely have to do without Matej Vydra once again.
The striker is still struggling with a hamstring problem and returned to parent club Watford earlier in the week, where he was assessed by the Hornets’ medical staff.
