Reading will be without forwards Dave Kitson (suspended) and Leroy Lita (hip) for tomorrow's visit of Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League.
Long term injured players Glen Little (Achilles) and Ibrahima Sonko (knee) remain absent however midfielders Bobby Convey and Emerse Fae maybe involved for the 1st time this season.
Goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann will keep his place inspite of not having fully recovered from a broken hand.
Reading sign Emerse Fae from French side Nantes for a fee reported to be in the region of £2.5 million.
The Ivory Coast international, 23, midfielder signed a 3 year contract with the option of a 4th and will wear the number 20 shirt.
"Reading were following me for a long time. I was interested as soon as I heard that they would like me," mentioned Fae.
Royals director of football Nick Hammond said, "We have tracked Emerse for a considerable period of time."
Fae, whose fee would rise dependent on appearances, becomes Reading's 2nd signing of the summer after Kalifa Cisse joined from Boavista.
And Hammond added, "We feel that the deal we have agreed with Nantes represents very good value, especially in the current market place. He loves to break forward and drive with the ball, and will offer something a little different to the other midfielders within our squad."
Chairman John Madejski added, "This is a very important signing. He joins us at a very exciting time as we are preparing for our 2nd season in the Premier League, and we are confident that he will prove to be a very good signing. We were focused and selective with our transfer activities in the summer and Emerse is a player we were interested in for a long time, so it is very rewarding that our patience has borne fruit."
Fae, who made more than 100 appearances for Nantes, is excited by his new challenge in the Premier League.
"I have been waiting for this moment for a long time and now that it is done I am very happy," added Fae.
"Reading were following me for a long time and I was interested as soon as I heard that they would like me. I would like to play here and triumph games in this magnificent stadium and I am happy to work with Steve Coppell, he is a good manager."
