Player Analysis: Michael Olise

Reading FC made an electric start to the 2020/21 Championship season, winning seven of their first eight games. The Royals did eventually begin to tail off, as expected, but they are still in sixth place, just three points behind second-placed Swansea, and have established themselves as promotion contenders.

Veljko Paunovic’s young side is littered with promising talent; Ovie Ejaria is really beginning to strut his stuff, classy central midfielder Josh Laurent is excelling during his debut Championship campaign and 22-year-old Omar Richards is quickly cementing himself as one of the best full backs in the division. 

But perhaps the most exciting prospect of all is Michael Olise - he is the jewel in the crown of this Reading team. Olise, who made his professional debut at 17, has featured in every Royals game this season and is now one of the first names on Paunovic’s team sheet.

Olise is incredibly versatile and can operate on either wing as well as ‘in the hole’, just behind the striker. Reading typically line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation and the trio of players sitting behind the lone centre forward are very fluid and interchangeable. The graphic below shows that Olise is confident playing in a multitude of positions, specifically cutting in on his favoured left foot from the right flank.