Reading v Derby preview

McDermott: Work to be done

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Reading and Derby will be looking to edge away from trouble when they go head-to-head on Wednesday.

The Royals have taken five wins from their last six outings to clamber out of the bottom three, but they remain just a point above the drop zone.

The Rams are slightly better off heading down the final stretch, five points clear of the Championship trapdoor, and have suffered only two defeats in seven games.

Reading team news

Reading boss Brian McDermott is boosted by the return of defender Zurab Khizanishvili for the midweek clash.

The on-loan Georgia international missed Sunday's FA Cup defeat at the hands of Aston Villa as he was cup-tied after playing for Blackburn against Villa in the third round of the competition.

Khizanishvili will come into contention for a starting role but midfielder Jem Karacan remains absent with a hand injury.

Kalifa Cisse (dead leg) may be back to bolster the Royals' midfield but Noel Hunt and Chris Armstrong remain long-term injury absentees.

McDermott's men picked up no new injuries against Villa and the Reading boss insists his players can take heart from their spirited display at the weekend.

Villa won 4-2, but McDermott said: "We gave them as tough a game as they'll have all season."

Derby team news

Captain Robbie Savage and defenders Shaun Barker and Jay McEveley are expected to be fit for Derby's trip to the Madejski Stadium.

Midfielder Savage and Barker are nursing slight knocks following Saturday's home win over Watford but it is anticipated that both players will be available.

Left-back McEveley is also carrying a minor injury but he too should come back into contention after a two-match suspension.

However, leading scorer Rob Hulse is a doubt. The 10-goal striker was replaced after 75 minutes against Watford after complaining of a hamstring problem.