JAAP Stam admits he is baffled why there have been so many injuries at Reading FC this season.

A host of Royals players have suffered knocks, some serious, since the start of pre-season training in June, leading Stam short of options at times.

Yann Kermorgant, Jordan Obita, Callum Harriott, Joseph Mendes and Stephen Quinn have all had surgery in the past few months.

And Stam has also been robbed of the services of Joey van den Berg, Liam Kelly, Garath McCleary, George Evans, Modou Barrow, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and skipper Paul McShane at various points of the season due to short-term injuries.

Stam cannot put a finger on the reasons why his squad has suffered so badly and he is determined to get to the bottom of it.

Royals boss said: “Some of the injuries we’ve had came when players were not even by doing a lot.

“I have been asking where does this come from? We talk a lot with the medical and technical staff about this and whether we need to be more cautious of this when we are building things up.

“It is frustrating. When you have a big squad you want to use everybody, but you can’t.”

Kermorgant suffered a serious injury in a freak training ground accident at Hogwood Park in early July.

The 35-year-old needed a hip and groin operation and is yet to make an appearance this season.

However, last season’s 19-goal top scorer is back to full fitness and could make his comeback at Sheffield United this Saturday (3pm ko).

Reading Chronicle:

Yann Kermorgant has recovered from hip and groin surgery.

Bad luck struck Royals again in the 1-1 home draw with Hull City on September 23 when Obita suffered a major injury when sliding off the playing surface and onto the running track.

The 23-year-old full-back had reconstructive knee surgery last week and has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

But Stam stressed: “I don’t think it’s anything to do with the pitches, they are great.

“Some of the injuries we couldn’t have done anything about, they were down to a wrong move or kick.

“Then you have Jordan Obita and Yann whose injuries were not down to their physique, but because of one wrong move in a training session and another in a game.”

Reading Chronicle:

Jordan Obita is treated on the pitch for a serious knee injury after sliding off the pitch onto the running track during a 1-1 draw with Hull City.

On a more positive note, midfield ace John Swift, like Kermorgant, could make his return at Brammall Lane this Saturday after recovering from a double hamstring injury that ruled him out of the past four games.

Centre-back McShane has also shaken off a niggle that made him miss last weekend’s win at Leeds United and could be recalled to the team.

But Stam is reluctant to make too many changes to a winning side and is likely to pick a similar starting XI to the one he sent out at Elland Road.

“There may be a few details we need to change, but the performance the team against Leeds was very good and individually we did very well,” added Stam. “So at the moment there is no need to change it, but you never know.”