Reading welcome Swansea City on Boxing Day in the first of back-to-back home matches that could define their season.
Veteran Reading striker Jason Roberts is again missing as he continues to struggle with a hip injury.
The 34-year-old has missed the Royals' last three games, but is close to regaining fitness.
Defender Sean Morrison (ankle) is still sidelined and goalkeeper Alex McCarthy (shoulder) is out long term, but Reading have no fresh injuries from the weekend loss at Manchester City.
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup may rotate his squad for the trip to Berkshire.
The Dane hopes to have winger Pablo Hernandez available after a thigh injury, but Angel Rangel is set to miss out again with a calf problem.
Ki Sung-Yueng could come back into the side after Kemy Agustien was handed a starting role against Manchester United on Sunday.
