Striker Dave Kitson (appendix operation) and winger Bobby Convey (knee) remain sidelined but are both nearing comebacks.
Mikel Arteta returns for the Toffees after a week of treatment on an ankle injury he aggravated against Chelsea.
And there is further good news as Phil Neville, Leon Osman and Nuno Valente all showed no ill-effects after returning from injury last weekend.
Reading (from): Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Little, Sidwell, Harper, Hunt, Doyle, Seol, Lita, Long, Oster, Gunnarsson, Bikey, De La Cruz, Federici.
Everton (from): Howard, Wright, Neville, Yobo, Stubbs, Weir, Lescott, Valente, Naysmith, Osman, Carsley, Arteta, Davies, Van der Meyde, McFadden, Anichebe, Beattie, Johnson, Vaughan, Hughes.
"We have two big games coming up against the two best teams in the country away from home.
"Nobody would relish that combination but in my mind it's a no-lose situation so let's get them out of the way.
"Everton is very much the focus in the crosshairs at the moment, nobody is looking beyond that, I'll guarantee that."
"I don't think anyone should be surprised by what Reading have done.
"They've got a good side with a great team ethic and spirit, that's what it looks like from a distance.
"Look at their cup results from last season when they played Premier teams and didn't even play all their players as they were going for promotion."