Reading FC v Crystal Palace: Injury Update

Reading

The home side have had some encouraging injury-related news in recent days. Having been out for a few weeks now, Matej Vydra is expected to return for the Quarter Final against Palace, but may not be fit enough to start - that's according to Brian McDermott...

"Vydra has trained but hasn't been playing games. So we'll have to make a call on that. It might be he's on the bench and we go from there."

Elsewhere, key players Paul McShane and Hal Robson-Kanu should be fully fit. McShane picked up a calf problem before last Saturday's match against Fulham, whereas Robson-Kanu had to be withdrawn at half time. That of course leaves Brian McDermott with a big decision to make at centre half, with all his options now back in contention. Anton Ferdinand could keep his place, but the return of Paul McShane will be bad news for Jake Cooper who's struggled in recent games. Apart from them, Aaron Tshibola is a long-term absentee.

Crystal Palace

Friday night's visitors to the Mad Stad have had fitness concerns to mull over themselves. However, whereas Reading frontman Matej Vydra should be fit, his Crystal Palace opposite number Connor Wickham has been ruled out. The one-time Reading academy player had netted an impressive four goals in his last two appearances, but has been sidelined by a thigh injury.

On the flipside, former Southampton winger Jason Puncheon is available for Alan Pardew's side, although Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie are expected to start the match. The Eagles' boss said...

"...Puncheon will be available for this game. And that'll be a big boost for us. I think we've missed him, in terms of his control in possession and certainly his knowledge of the Premier League."

Added to that, 'keeper Wayne Hennessey should return in place of Reading academy graduate Alex McCarthy.