Reading v Middlesbrough preview

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Reading’s Jimmy Kebe remains a doubt.

The winger hobbled out of the clash with Doncaster on September 17 and has not featured for the Royals since, as he tries to get over a knee problem.

Young forward Jordan Obita is the only other notable absentee for this weekend’s game. Obita has pulled out of the England Under-19 squad due to injury and will not be fit to face Boro.

Frenchman Cedric Baseya has received international clearance following his move from Lille, but the hitman is unlikely to feature on Saturday, with boss Brian McDermott keen on continuing to integrate him into the squad.

Simon Church, Mathieu Manset and Adam Le Fondre are battling out for the two strikers’ berths for Reading. Each has found the net in the last three games, as the Royals have picked up seven points from a possible nine.

Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray will assess defender Rhys Williams.

The Australia international started in the goalless draw with Leicester despite being ill during the day, and his condition will be monitored over the next 24 hours.

Joe Bennett (knee) and Marvin Emnes (ankle) were also able to play against Sven-Goran Eriksson’s men after winning their respective fitness battles.

Seb Hines continues his recovery from a knee problem, although Saturday’s game against the Royals is likely to come too soon for him.

Jonathan Franks is expected to be sidelined until December after undergoing surgery to repair a dislocated shoulder, but goalkeeper Jason Steele’s return from a fractured bone in his wrist is imminent.

Reading v Middlesbrough preview

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Reading manager Brian McDermott has some late decisions to make before naming his side to face Middlesbrough.

McDermott saw his side pull off a famous FA Cup win at Everton in midweek and could be boosted further by the return of some key players.

Right-back Andy Griffin has been sidelined for the last two matches with an Achilles injury but has a chance of being involved, while deputy Shaun Cummings also missed out at Goodison Park with an injury.

That meant midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson filling in at full-back and he will do again if required.

Club captain Ivar Ingimarsson has been ruled out with a groin injury while Alex Pearce remains sidelined with a thigh strain, so former Blackburn man Zurab Khizanishvili is in line to keep his place.

Goalkeeper Adam Federici remains out with a knee injury so 21-year-old Alex McCarthy will continue fresh from making a stunning save to keep out a Leon Osman volley at Everton.

Striker Mathieu Manset is fit again after a calf injury and will be in the squad.

Australia international Rhys Williams could return to the Boro squad for the trip south to Berkshire.

The 22-year-old has not played a senior game for the club since April last year because of the pelvic condition which prevented him from representing his country at last summer’s World Cup finals.

However, Williams got 84 minutes under his belt for the reserves in midweek and is likely to travel to the Madejski Stadium.

Midfielder Julio Arca is battling knee and toe injuries and manager Tony Mowbray will make a late decision on him.

However, Andrew Davies, Matthew Bates, Justin Hoyte (all hamstring), Stephen McManus, Jonathan Franks, Luke Williams (all ankle), Danny Coyne (double hernia surgery), Willo Flood (thigh) and Kevin Thomson (hairline fibula fracture) are still out.