Paul Ince has made four changes for the trip to Blackburn Rovers, with Lucas Joao coming in for Andy Carroll.

The former England striker has dropped out of the squad altogether, with the Angola international partnering Shane Long.

Cesare Casadei and Mamadou Loum both return in midfield to join Jeff Hendrick.

Tom Holmes captains the side in the absence of Andy Yiadom, while Amadou Mbengue returns from the start.

Junior Hoilett, Tom McIntyre and Lucas Joao all scored in the reverse fixture, with Reading blowing Blackburn away 3-0 in August.

Lumley; Holmes; Sarr; Mbengue; McIntyre; Loum; Hendrick; Casadei; Ince; Long; Joao

Former Reading Academy graduate Dominic Hyam starts for the Rovers, while key men Ben Brereton Diaz and Sam Gallagher remain in from Friday's 3-2 defeat to Stoke City.

Tyrhys Dolan is the star man on the bench.

Pears; Pickering; Hyam; Morton; Szmodics; Gallagher; Rankin-Costello; Thomas; Carter; Brereton Diaz; Travis