The 30-year-old has been named in Fabio Capello’s 30-man provisional squad after scoring 13 goals for the Royals over the season.

He was chosen ahead of ex-Tottenham Hotspur forward Roman Pavlyuchenko by Capello, who will cut his final squad to 23 players on June 2.

Capello’s side will then warm up for the World Cup tournament with friendlies against Slovakia on May 26, Norway on May 31 and Morocco on June 6.

However, Pogrebnyak’s Royals’ teammate Danny Williams appears set to miss out on the World Cup with USA.

The central midfielder has been carrying a knee problem since returning from international duty in March.

He had a minor operation but was forced to sit out the final two matches of the Championship season including the 2-2 draw with Burnley on the last day when Royals were pipped to the last play-off spot by Brighton & Hove Albion.

The 25-year-old was not expecting to be named in Jurgen Klinsmann’s USA squad when the Midweek went to press.

“At the moment it doesn’t look good,” Williams admitted. “I don’t know if I need another operation, I have to see.

“I have to get my knee straight because to be healthy is the most important thing.

“I have the World Cup in my head, of course I do. It’s so close now.

“But a lot of people don’t believe it when I say that my priority is Reading.”

Meanwhile, the fall-out from Reading’s failure to secure a play-off spot and challenge for promotion continues following the release of two more players.

Youngsters Lawson D’Ath and Nick Arnold have been axed after struggling to make the step up to Nigel Adkins’ first team.

The pair both graduated from the club’s Academy, with Arnold spending last season on loan at League Two Wycombe Wanderers and D’Ath spending a large chunk of the campaign with Dagenham & Redbridge.

The duo were told their contracts would not be renewed by the Royals as they continue their summer clearout.

With no sign of absent majority owner Anton Zingarevich pumping in more cash, it means Reading chairman Sir John Madejski - who still owns 49% - has been forced to slash the playing budget to make ends meet.

Five senior first-team players have already been released, leaving skipper Jobi McAnuff, Mikele Leigertwood, Kaspars Gorkss, Wayne Bridge and Stuart Taylor to look for new clubs.

McAnuff, 32, Leigertwood 31, and Gorkss, 32, were all mainstays of the Reading FC squad that won the Championship title in 2012 and promotion to the Premier League under former boss Brian McDermott.

Bridge, 33, was plagued by injury during his spell with the Royals and has since announced his retirement from football while goalkeeper Taylor, 33, was always behind Alex McCarthy and Adam Federici in the pecking order.

Now, a number of Reading players fear they could suffer the same fate with Chris Gunter, Adam Le Fondre, Danny Guthrie, Jem Karacan, Alex Pearce, Garath McCleary, McCarthy and Federici all entering the final year of their contracts.

When asked if he fears the first-team will be split up, Gunter suggested: “That’s up to the club and they need to get that sorted straight away for the sake of the fans and the atmosphere around the place.

“No doubt there will be speculation about certain players as there always is, regardless of our situation.

“Hopefully that can get sorted out to give ourselves the earliest opportunity to start building for next year.

“Before you know it we’ll be back in for training, playing some friendlies and looking forward to the season. So hopefully all that goes the right way for us.”

Meanwhile, Royals are due to hold talks with youngsters Michael Hector, Jake Taylor and Gozie Ugwu over new deals this week.