Reading boss Brian McDermott is facing a lengthy injury list ahead of the trip to Portsmouth. Preparations for the trip were already hampered after an epic 350-mile round trip to Torquay on Wednesday night went to extra time and McDermott now has several injuries to worry about. Matt Mills and Jobi McAnuff were rested for the cup trip but are struggling for fitness while midfielder Jay Tabb has complained of an ankle injury. Strikers Simon Church (groin) and Shane Long (hip) are struggling so Grzegorz Rasiak may continue after scoring a 120th-minute winner at Torquay. Captain Ivar Ingimarsson is close to a return from a hamstring injury but is not ready yet while long-term absentees Julian Kelly (groin) and Chris Armstrong (knee) remain out. Noel Hunt (ankle) is close to a comeback while McDermott can welcome back Adam Federici, Alex McCarthy, Mikkel Andersen, Jake Taylor, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Hal Robson-Kanu from international duty.
Source: PA
Source: PA