Last Updated: Tue, 11 Dec 2012 05:35
Reading are expected to be without Sean Morrison and Pavel Pogrebnyak for tonight's crucial trip to Sunderland.
The Royals go into the game at the Stadium of Light in desperate need of a positive result following another disappointing result against Southampton at the weekend but will have to do it without both players.
Morrison left St Mary's on crutches at the weekend after picking up an ankle injury and is unlikely to figure while Russian striker Pogrebnyak has a knock and will also sit out.
Alex McCarthy (shoulder), Jimmy Kebe (groin), Jem Karacan (knee) and Chris Gunter (hamstring) are also on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, Royals defender Nicky Shorey says it is crucial Reading get their act together fast if they are to avoid making a sharp return to the Championship.
"It concerns me a lot," he revealed. "There is not a lot else you can say. We've got to man up and make sure our performances get to the level they need to be because they haven't been."
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