09 February 2017
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Paul McShane and Joey Van den Berg are both set to miss the next two games as they continue to recover from injuries. The Royals will be without both players ahead of Barnsley's visit to the Madejski Stadium this Saturday. Reading have two home games in the space of four days as they look to pick up points at home to keep the pace with the division's top two. Brentford are the next visitors on Tuesday night, and Reading fans will be hoping for a maximum six points to keep the outside chance of automatic promotion alive.
Despite McShane and Van den Berg likely to be sidelined, Reading manager Jaap Stam delivered an upbeat injury update this morning and he confirmed that a number of key players are on the verge of returning to action but will be unable to face either Barnsley or Brentford. Stephen Quinn has been out for a long time, with his last first team action all the way back in October 2016 - Reading's 0-2 away defeat to Arsenal in the League Cup. However, things are looking up for Quinn with Stam confirming he has at last returned to training with the first team: "He is getting back into the routine of training, small games, big games, getting his match fitness. He's getting there as well, he's feeling a lot better than he was a few weeks ago." The Royals have been getting by without Quinn but, despite the recent arrivals, he remains a very useful player to have available to bring back into the squad.
Meanwhile Callum Harriott remains out with his hamstring injury and defender Tiago Ilori still has his knee in a brace, with Stam expecting his recovery to take "several weeks". Ilori has had bad luck since signing for an estimated 3.75 million pounds from Liverpool a month ago. He has managed just two games and been forced to sit out the last three games. His only start was at Derby County as the Royals slumped to a 2-3 defeat.
Ilori, McShane and Van den Berg's absence saw Jaap Stam snap up West Ham youngster Reece Oxford on loan on transfer deadline day to fill in the middle of defence. Oxford was an unused substitute during Reading's 2-2 draw at Ipswich but will be hoping to make his home debut this weekend. Those that didn't travel to Ipswich will be looking forward to seeing some new faces with Mutch and Grabban likely to play. With other players returning from injury in the near future, Stam is spoilt for choice as he looks to build a promotion challenge.
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