Royals manager Veljko Paunovic remains hopeful that some of his first-team stars currently sidelined through injury will return before the international break.

Yakou Meite and Lewis Gibson returned to the bench on Saturday for the draw with Nottingham Forest, with the former scoring the crucial equalising goal for Reading at the City Ground.

The remaining absentees will be assessed today ahead of a trip to Birmingham City on Wednesday and a home clash with QPR on Saturday.

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When asked whether any of these players could play before the international break which follows the QPR game, Paunovic said: "For now, it doesn't look like it - but we will assess again on Monday. 

"Maybe, finally, we will get a nice surprise."

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Currently Michael Morrison, Ovie Ejaria, Andy Rinomhota, John Swift and Felipe Araruna all remain sidelined.

Morrison, Ejaria and Rinomhota are closest to a return and may feature in the next week, with Swift and Araruna expected to be out for longer still.