Stam Gives Injury Update On McShane, Ilori & van den Berg

After that painful 7-1 mauling by Norwich at the weekend, Royals fans have been hoping for good news on the injury front to bolster what's starting to look a stretched squad. With two games in the space of three days, fresh legs might be even more important so who does boss Jaap Stam think could make it back in time?

Various local journalists have been sitting in to Stam's weekly media conference, with the Wokingham Paper's Tom Crocker bringing updates on Reading Captain Paul McShane and fellow defenders Tiago Ilori and Joey van den Berg.

Not the most positive of news, especially with regards to Paul McShane who has really struggled with various niggly injuries of late. The Reading skipper has managed just seven appearances since Janaury 2nd's 3-2 win over Bristol City, and has been out entirely since the 3-0 defeat at Preston on March 11.

Ilori's fitness was always going to be a longer process after the ankle problem he picked up against Fulham in January, but Joey's been another one who can't seem to stay fit for long periods. Stam's fellow Dutchman has played just four times since the end of January, most recently in the 2-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday just before the International break.

All three could be crucial to our chances in the play-offs, especially if the defensive fragility up at Norwich is anything to go by. McShane and van den Berg's leadership and fight seemed particularly absent at Carrow Road but with already relegated Rotherham one of those two games this weekend, they're about the best opponents to rest one or two against you'll ever have in this division.

So Stam's hands may be tied by injury concerns, with Callum Harriott and Stephen Quinn also still dealing with long-term problems but the Reading boss has said he won't be tempted to make massive changes after Saturday's defeat.

So overall, not quite the positive news we were hoping for ahead of the weekend but fingers crossed everyone is fit and firing when it matters the most.