On Thursday afternoon, Reading FC manager Veljko Paunovic provided extensive updates on the Royals still-lenghty injury list.

All of the manager's quotes as well as analysis as to when each Reading player might be able to return can be found below...

Yakou Meite

"It does please me and he’s been doing very well. We’ve seen a lot of progress after that game (with the U23s on Monday night). It was a game that gave him and everyone who works with him reassurance that he’s on the right path.

"So now in training he’s much more confident, much more composed. He’s a strong guy but after such a difficult injury, you need that reassurance. That’s why the U23 games are a great resource.

"Yaks…we have to still be careful and gradually build his form and game-readiness, game-fitness, because this injury is a difficult injury and there is a lot of risk of reinjury. So we have to be very very careful even though he is very eager to come back.

"He will need a couple more games with the U23s and we are looking to schedule something."

Possble return date: Mid-February

It was incredibly exciting to see Meite back on the pitch in any capacity when he played 45 minutes with the U23s on Monday night.

While it sounds like it went very well, there will be a desire for caution considering the extent of his injury. He is closing in on a return though and should play for the first team at some point in February if nothing goes wrong.

Ovie Ejaria:

"He’s back in training, he’s getting in shape so that’s another positive. I think that’s the plan for him - get him to full game-fitness mode and training should help. He’s fit, he’s a fit guy, he didn’t have a major injury before he got Covid - had some groin issues - but he’s looking back now.

"We expect that he can be involved (on Saturday)."

Possible return date: Saturday vs QPR

While it seemed Ejaria might be fit to play some part against Huddersfield, Paunovic has now said the expectation is that he will be involved at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.

Dejan Tetek

"He’s far away. He pulled his hamstring and the tendon is involved in the injury so that’s major or longer-term. He’s a young lad, he might recover earlier because of that.

Possible return date: A few months

With a pulled hamstring and damage to the tendons, it seems like a fairly severe one for Tetek. While no specific timeline was provided, the injury sounds like months rather than weeks. Hopefully he can return before the end of the season.

Tom McIntyre

"He’s close. We expect he’ll be involved in some U23 games before he can (come back). When you see him with the U23s we’ll have the same conversation like we had with Yaks."

Possible return date: Mid to late February

Having been out since August, it would be foolish to rush McIntyre back into action. He’ll get some minutes with the U23s before returning to the first team. With no set-backs, mid to late February seems a viable return date.

Alen Halilovic

"He is recovering, he is willing to push. His injury is similar to the one he had before but it looks slightly lesser grade. The first time we lost him was for two months, now we’re thinking it’s going to be around four weeks. So we will expect him back at some point."

Possible return date: Early to mid-February

Forced off against Kidderminster, a four-week timeline would give Halilovic a shot to return for Reading’s first game of February against Bristol City.

Scott Dann

"Scott Dann is similar to Halilovic so in the four-week range."

Possible return date: Mid-February

Dann was forced off early on in the 7-0 defeat to Fulham. Four weeks from the injury would have him on track to return for Bristol City away on the 9th of February, but the titanic clash with Peterborough on the 16th is probably a more likely return date.

Femi Azeez

"Femi is longer, he sprained his ankle…so more than eight weeks."

Possible return date: Early March

Azeez last appeared for Reading in the FA Cup defeat to Kidderminster and while it’s unclear when exactly he picked up his ankle injury, eight weeks from that date would give him a shot to return at the end of February although March seems a more likely outcome.

Felip Araruna

"He had surgery, surgery went very well. A few days ago he came for a medical assessmenet with his father so I met them both in the canteen.

"He was in a very good state of mind because in some way this injury helps him to fix that tendon for good - that’s what the specialists are saying - and that gives him hope and belief that he’s at the end of the tunnel after this injury. He’ll probably (be out) for five or six months.

"Hopefully, he can start pre-season next year and be back on the field. But he was, when I spoke with him, a little bit down but I saw a lot of hope in his eyes. So that was for me, a good sign that he’s in a good place and is recovering well."

Possible return date: Next season

It's a sickening blow for a player who was out for more than a year, came back for two substitute appearances and will now miss the rest of the season.

He could return in time for next season but with his contract expiring in the summer it would seem unlikely he’ll be playing his football at Reading when that time comes.