GARATH McCleary could delay a groin operation until the summer to help Reading FC in the Championship play-offs.

Royals’ winger limped out of Saturday’s 1-0 win against Wigan with a recurring groin problem.

The club’s medical staff have been using a combination of rest and painkillers to deal with the injury, though Stam admits that cannot go on forever.

“He’s had the problem for most of the season,” stated Royals’ boss. “We’ve had to manage it and in the first half of the season he did quite well, it was under control. But with the amount of games we needed to play and the intensity it got worse.

“Sometimes we needed to take him out and give him a couple of days’ rest and a couple of extra pain killers so that he could play again.

“But towards the end of the season and on Saturday that wasn’t good enough.”

McCleary was forced off the pitch against Wigan shortly before the break, and Stam added: “Garath didn’t train last week. He was okay on the Friday and I was hoping for 60 minutes or more from him. But he had too many problems, you could see that in the game.

“It’s not that bad though maybe he needs an operation eventually, we don’t know. We need to have a look at it to see what we can do for the play-offs.”

However, in a major defensive boost for Stam, captain Paul McShane and club-record signing Tiago Ilori have recovered from their injuries and could be available for the trip to Burton Albion this Sunday (12pm ko) and also the play-offs.

Meanwhile, the English Football League has released the provisional dates for the Championship play-offs.

The first semi-final between the teams finishing sixth and third will take place on Saturday, May 13, with the return leg the following Tuesday.

Teams finishing fourth and fifth will play on Sunday, May 14 and the following Wednesday.

The final at Wembley will be on Monday, May 29.