Reading are set to benefit from the enforced break over the weekend, with key stars returning from injury.

The Royals' clash with Watford on Saturday was postponed following the death of Her Majesty, Elizabeth II on Thursday afternoon.

EFL matches are set to resume in midweek, with Paul Ince's side looking to make it five home wins on the spin against Sunderland on Wednesday.

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The likes of Shane Long, Ovie Ejaria and Naby Sarr were all on the medical table ahead of the match with the Hornets on Saturday, however Long is expected to be back fit and involved somehow.

Sarr and Ejaria are both looking likely to return after the international break, with the battle with Tony Mowbray's Sunderland and a trip to Wigan Athletic on Saturday to come in September.

Mamadou Loum and Yakou Meite were both expected to play some part at Vicarage Road, with an extra three days rest doing nobody any harm.

The Black Cats, who sit comfortably in third since their return to the second tier, are to be without key striker Ross Stewart- with the Scot injured for up to 12 weeks.

Speaking to the media ahead of the match with Rob Edwards' Watford, the match that never was, the former England captain was excited to welcome some of his squad back to action.

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"Shane’s got a problem so he looks like he will be out for Saturday," he explained. "Yaks [Yakou Meite] is back training, maybe it’s too early to start but he should be back in contention, whether it’s Saturday or Wednesday. Mama [Mamadou Loum] is back in training so it’s okay.

"Naby [Sarr] is going to be a couple of weeks, he won’t be back before the Wigan game so I’m glad we’ve got an international break to try and get some players back. Ovie [Ejaria] is back in the gym doing some stuff. He was on the grass today, not doing much but keeping the ball. I’m hoping after the international break he’ll be back again."