The midfielder, who has been linked with a January move to the Premier League, suffered an ankle injury in training on Christmas Day and missed the 2-0 defeat at Plymouth.
Chris Perry and Bradley Wright-Phillips will also be added to the squad after being rested on Boxing Day.
Jordan Robertson is unlikely to figure having missed the Plymouth game after being involved in a minor car accident on Christmas Eve.
The on-loan Sheffield United striker was left bruised and shaken after the incident but otherwise unscathed.
On-loan Royals defender Alex Pearce is ineligible to play against his parent club.
Winger Ryan Smith should be okay despite coming off with cramp at Home Park but Morgan Schneiderlin (hamstring), Michael Svensson (Achilles) and Wayne Thomas (knee) are still out.
Reading manager Steve Coppell is expected to make a couple of changes for the trip.
Coppell hinted before the beginning of the festive period that he would rotate his squad and could make changes in midfield - where he is blessed with a wealth of quality options.
Winger Jimmy Kebe was restricted to a place on the bench for the 1-1 draw with Cardiff on Boxing Day after completing a three-match ban and will be hoping to start in place of James Henry.
James Harper and Kalifa Cisse started in the centre of midfield but Coppell may choose to go with Czech Republic international Marek Matejovsky and Brynjar Gunnarsson.
Cameroon defender Andre Bikey is also desperate to return after being kept out by Michael Duberry since his recent suspension.
All eyes will be on goalscoring goalkeeper Adam Federici after his last-minute equaliser against Cardiff. The Australian will keep his place as first-choice Marcus Hahnemann remains sidelined with a calf problem.
Sporting Life