Reading FC Manager Jaap Stam Gives Injury Update Ahead of Leeds United Match

Speaking ahead of Saturday's big game at home to Leeds United, Jaap Stam provided an injury update. Reading's list of absentees had been pretty severe in recent weeks, with around ten players missing in either the short or long terms.

However, the news coming out today is pretty positive reading for Royals fans. Stam said:

"Tiago is back in training, he's been training with the group so that looks good. Of course he needs to have match fitness. But he's back in the squad so that's a good thing."

"Jordon Mutch is back in the squad as well, he's been training with the group, Liam Kelly as well, so he's back."

"Paul McShane is back with the squad aswell"

However, there's worse news elsewhere in the team, with Stam confirming that no long-term absentees are near a return to first team action. That includes the likes of Stephen Quinn and Callum Harriott, neither of whom have played in 2017.

"Deniss Rakels was on international duty so he didn't come back today, he's going to come back tomorrow, so we've got choices to make."

According to Stam, goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola has a problem with fluid in his knee, which sometimes makes it feel unstable. Because of that, he's not been training or on the pitch at all recently, so George Legg is expected to be named on the bench on Saturday. Nonetheless, the manager was full of praise for the academy graduate.

"We believe in him."

"George is doing a great job, so he gets the opportunity to be on the bench, and if Ali gets injured, then he needs to step in... and we're confident that he can do that."

Elsewhere, Stephen Quinn's knee problems persist despite managing half of a reserve game recently. Similarly, Callum Harriot's hamstring injury will take quite a while to fully heal, as it occurred near the tendon, a more delicate place to be damaged, as opposed to a muscle tear.