Reading defender Tom Holmes is to miss the next 'four to six weeks' following his back injury sustained against Leyton Orient last month.
The 23-year-old had become one of the first names on the team sheet over recent months following his return to form, earning himself a move to Premier League Luton Town before returning on loan until the summer.
However, flying into a tackle in last month's 1-1 draw with the O's, the academy graduate fractured his back and has not featured in the last three matches in which the Royals have picked up seven points out of nine.
"He has been in with Luton for a couple of days now being assessed by the specialist there, Ruben Selles said after Saturday's 2-0 win over Charlton Athletic. "It is between four and six weeks so we need to wait but I don’t think he will be there before the end of the month."
Tyler Bindon and Amadou Mbengue have become the latest central defensive pairing and have been thriving in wins over Stevenage and Charlton.
The Royals face Fleetwood Town, Portsmouth and Port Vale before the end of February, hoping to extend the gap between themselves and the relegation zone.
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