READING FC boss Veljko Paunovic offered positive injury news on a key player’s return after his side eased past Bristol City. 

The Serb manager was ‘delighted’ with his team’s 2-0 victory and praised his players for ‘bringing back the team spirit’.

Reading secured all three points having lost two home games in a row in the days prior. 

Speaking after Tuesday night’s fixture, Paunovic said: “I am delighted and proud of another fantastic performance. 

“Two goals away against a hard team to beat -- we expected a tough game but we matched that with a great performance from our team. 

“I’m also very happy for the clean sheet and for reacting very quickly bouncing back after two defeats in a row in just a couple of days. 

“The last game was an accident, so I wasn’t worried. I wanted to bring back the team spirit and togetherness and I think we did that very well.”

READ MORE: Player ratings from Reading's 2-0 win over Bristol

The victory was secured with two goals netted minutes after one another. 

Lucas Joao bagged the first on 42 minutes before setting up Michael Morrison, who converted after a storming run from the halfway line through the Robins’ defence. 

Paunovic added: “[We scored] beautiful goals. There is always something that happens before and after the goal thanks to the team. 

“In this case, Lucas and Morrison did their part. 

“I was very happy for both of them. 

“For Morrison, I was very happy, that was one of my favourite goals of the season so far because of the way he did it. 

READ MORE: Match report as Reading beat Bristol 2-0 

“He doesn’t need to be encouraged especially, because he’s a very brave man. When he saw that gap and that space he was just determined and went through.”

Reading remain in fifth place following the victory, cementing their play-off position. 

Next up for the Royals is a home game against Middlesborough on Saturday, who sit eighth in the Championship table. 

And Reading could be boosted by the return of midfield man Josh Laurent for the crunch fixture after he was missing from the squad for the 2-0 win over Bristol. 

Speaking about the former Shrewsbury man, Paunovic said: “Josh got a couple of knocks in the last few games. 

“He was carrying them through the matches we played, so the assessment from the medical staff for this game was we will be risking too much so we decided to rest him so he benefits from that. 

“Hopefully he can recover and be ready for the next game, or as soon as possible.”

READ MORE: Updates as they came in after Reading beat Bristol City

The manager did not offer an update on Yakou Meite, who has been out injured since before the Christmas break despite featuring briefly against Stoke earlier this month. 

George Puscas and Liam Moore could soon appear more frequently, however, after medium-term injuries ruled them out for a string of games before they returned to the Reading bench this evening.  

Paunovic continued: “We are building their game fitness and today, given the situation on the field, we could give some minutes to George. We are looking for them to be ready as soon as possible. 

“But their progress will determine how fast we can go.”

Key midfielder John Swift faces another layoff, however, with the star player aggravating a hamstring. 

The Royals boss gave an update on Swift. 

He said: “Six weeks is a timeline for another assessment and to see how he’s going to progress. It’s not a simple injury. 

“It’s not in the same part of the hamstring, but it’s the same hamstring. That muscle already suffered.

“He’s a young and healthy lad so that process should work well for him, but everything is individual.”