READING FC midfielder John Swift faces a four week lay-off with a hamstring injury.

The England Under 21 ace suffered the knock during Saturday’s 1-0 Championship defeat at Preston.

The signing from Chelsea was left out of Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup win over Millwall and boss Jaap Stam revealed he is likely to be sidelined for a month.

However, Stam also had some better news as Liam Kelly and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson could both return for Saturday’s league clash at Birmingham City (3pm ko).

Stam said: “John Swift has a hamstring injury and is going to be out for up to four weeks which is a pity.

“Liam Kelly took a deliberate knock on his thigh against Preston and has a dead leg. It’s not bad but we couldn’t risk him on Tuesday. Hopefully he’ll be fit for the weekend.

“Joey van den Berg is back in training and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson is closer to being match fit, but it doesn’t mean he can start or play 90 minutes.

“You see that with Garath McCleary. He started on Tuesday but wasn’t really up to his usual standards.

“It will take time to get these players back into the squad because they have missed up to six weeks of pre-season.

“But it looks good now players are coming back which will eventually make up stronger.”

Reading Chronicle:

Liam Kelly suffered a dead leg against Preston.

In a further boost for Stam, left-back Jordan Obita is also stepping up his recovery and could return to full straining soon.

But last season’s 19-goal top goalscorer Yann Kermorgant remains several weeks away following hip and groin surgery over the summer.

“Jordan is feeling good,” explained Stam. “He’s been running outside but hasn’t joined in with the group.

“According to Yann himself, he’s a couple of weeks away but in reality, given the injury, it will be more like six or seven weeks.”