Reading will be without banned centre-back Andre Bikey for Saturday's Barclays Premiership clash at Middlesbrough.
January signing Michael Duberry will make his debut unless manager Steve Coppell elects to give another chance to fringe man Sam Sodje.
Winger Bobby Convey (knee) has joined Ibrahima Sonko (knee) on the long-term casualty list and while striker Kevin Doyle has recovered from a hamstring problem he is not ready to return.
South Korea striker Lee Dong-Gook could make his senior debut for Middlesbrough.
The 27-year-old is in the squad after playing 45 minutes for the reserves last night and is in contention for a place in the 16.
Jonathan Woodgate (thigh) and Lee Cattermole (hamstring) are fit, but Fabio Rochemback will miss out once again with a shin injury.
Teams:
Middlesbrough (from): Schwarzer, Davies, Taylor, Xavier, Woodgate, Pogatetz, Boateng, Morrison, Cattermole, Yakubu, Viduka, Downing, Jones, Hines, Parnaby, Euell, Arca, Christie, Lee.
Reading (from): Hahnemann, Murty, Ingimarsson, Duberry, Sodje, Shorey, Little, Sidwell, Harper, Hunt, Lita, Long, Kitson, Federici, de la Cruz, Halford, Gunnarsson, Oster, Seol.