Craig Goodwin has returned to Newcastle following a successful training spell with EPL Club Reading FC.
Hunter Ports Newcastle Jets left-back Craig Goodwin has returned to Australia following a successful training spell with English Premier League Club Reading FC.
Goodwin spent four weeks training with the Royals first team at their Hogwood Park practice facility.
His stay culminated with a 90-minute appearance for Reading-s reserve team in a 3-1 friendly win over Queens Park Rangers.
Goodwin said he cherished the opportunity to spend a month training with an English Premier League club.
“It was a fantastic experience,” Goodwin said.
“The training sessions were of a very high quality and the speed of the game was a lot faster.
“Getting a taste for what football is like in arguably the best league in the world has only increased my ambition and desire to one day reach that level.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and the feedback I got from the manger, the coaches and the players was all very positive.
“Hopefully the experience I-ve gained over there I can bring back to the Jets and put into practice for the season ahead.”
Jets CEO Robbie Middleby thanked Reading FC and the Club-s director of football Nick Hammond for giving Goodwin the opportunity to train with the Royals.
“From the correspondence I-ve had with Reading-s director of football Nick Hammond, they were very impressed with Craig-s technical ability as well as his character and attitude to training,” Middleby said.
“They were full of praise for the way that Craig performed during his time in the UK and they-ve told us they will continue to monitor his progress very closely over the next 12 months.”
Capping a busy week for the 21-year-old, Goodwin is one of 12 Australian-based players selected by Socceroos head coach Holger Osieck to participate in a training camp on the Central Coast starting on Monday.
CLICK HERE to read what Goodwin had to say about being selected to take part in the camp.
