Reading v C Palace preview

Team news ahead of Saturday's Championship clash between Reading and Crystal Palace at the Madejski Stadium.

Reading manager Brian McDermott will be without several first-team regulars as his side look to wrap up the Championship title with victory over Crystal Palace.

The Royals secured promotion to the Premier League with a win against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday and success this weekend could mean the Berkshire outfit go up as champions, depending on Southampton's result at Middlesbrough.

However, McDermott will be missing Jem Karacan, who will be sidelined for at least three months with a broken ankle, while full-back Matthew Connolly remains a doubt with an ankle problem of his own.

Hal Robson-Kanu and Jay Tabb (rib) have been carrying injuries of late and both will be monitored ahead of kick-off at the Madejski, and Jimmy Kebe could also miss out.

Back-up goalkeeper Mikkel Andersen remains out of action with a knee knock and Joseph Mills continues his recovery from a quad injury.

Palace manager Dougie Freedman is likely to turn to youngsters again to patch up his injury-hit side for the trip to Berkshire.

South Africa international Kagisho Dikgacoi is the latest player to see his season come to a premature end after he suffered a thigh injury against Ipswich on Saturday.

He joins fellow midfielders Mile Jedinak (groin) and Jonathan Williams (hamstring) and defender Anthony Gardner (hamstring) in missing the run-in.

Therefore Kyle De Silva, Kwesi Appiah and Stuart O'Keefe are set to be involved again along with rookie striker Antonio Pedroza, who got the nod ahead of Jermaine Easter and Glenn Murray at Portsmouth on Tuesday and enjoyed an encouraging debut despite a 2-1 defeat for the Eagles.