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It may have taken them till a penalty shootout, but Reading managed to get past MK Dons in the second round of the League Cup on Tuesday night. However, despite the result, a variety of injury/fitness problems reared their ugly heads. And, now that the proverbial dust has settled, we have some more information to go on.
The main worries
Both Deniss Rakels and Liam Kelly were stretchered off on Tuesday night - Rakels in the first half, Kelly in the second. The Latvian forward looks like being ruled out for quite some time...
Ulderink confirms it looks like Deniss Rakels has fractured his ankle. Set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines #ReadingFC
— Tom Crocker (@TomJCrocker) August 24, 2016
Deniss Rakels posts a picture from his hospital bed after fracturing his ankle last night. #readingfc @rdgchronicle pic.twitter.com/EEhOf9Q5yn
— Anthony Smith (@Smudgersport) August 24, 2016
Whereas our dimunitive Irish youngster's immediate future is harder to assess. Having gone in for an aerial challenge with Jake Cooper, he got a cut to the face, and potentially concussion. He'll be tested once more on Friday.
Other news out of the Dons match...
...is much more positive! Defenders Tennai Watson and Liam Moore both suffered from cramp on Tuesday night, but haven't suffered anything more major. That means they should both be fine for the trip to Cardiff City on Saturday.
It's less positive news for centre half Jake Cooper...
Could be worse than cramp for Cooper. Just seen him leaving stadium on crutches with lower leg/ankle strapped #ReadingFC
— Tom Crocker (@TomJCrocker) August 23, 2016
Crocker has since said that Cooper's ankle injury is likely to prevent him from making the trip to South Wales.
Elsewhere...
New signing Tyler Blackett is fit and raring to go, so is available for immediate selection. Similarly, despite a 'small injury', Tariqe Fosu is back in training.
However, Yakou Meite could be out for a short while with an ankle injury.
All the info in this article comes from @TomJCrocker on Twitter.