READING FC have received a double injury blow after Joey van den Berg became Jaap Stam’s latest casualty.

The 30-year-old Dutchman pulled a hamstring in the warm-up before Tuesday’s 0-0 draw with Birmingham City.

Van den Berg, who has put in a number of eye-catching performances this season, is facing at least a fortnight on the sidelined.

The news came less than 24 hours after forward Yakou Meite had an operation to remove his appendix on Monday, having been sent to hospital with food poisoning last week.

The 20-year-old signing from Paris Saint-Germain was already nursing an ankle ligament injury and is unlikely to play again for at least a month.

With Deniss Rakels out until at least the New year with a broken ankle, the injuries are suddenly mounting for Royals boss Stam.

He said: “Joey injured his hamstring in the warm-up. He had felt it beforehand and could still feel it after the warm up.

"The physios had a look at him and made the decision not to put him on the pitch.”

Van den Berg will be unavailable for Reading's trip to third-placed Barnsley this Saturday, with George Evans set to keep his place after an impressive display in a three-man defence in the 0-0 draw with Birmingham City on Tuesday night.