Connor Wickham will not be fit in time to spearhead the Crystal Palace attack in the FA Cup quarter-final clash at Reading on Friday night.

The tie sees Eagles boss Alan Pardew return to the Madejski, where he got his big break in management, before departing to take over at West Ham - a move which Pardew believes does not sit well with Royals fans to this day.

Palace will be relishing a chance to continue their cup run, and forget their league woes, having not tasted success in the top flight since December.

Brian McDermott's Reading come into this with little else to play for, sitting 14th in the Championship, clear of both the relegation zone and the play-offs.

However, the added incentive of getting one over on Pardew will mean the Royals faithful will be in full voice in Berkshire.

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Team news

Reading hope to welcome back Paul McShane, Hal Robson-Kanu and Matej Vydra. Skipper McShane and winger Robson-Kanu rested minor injuries as the Royals were beaten 3-1 at Huddersfield on Tuesday night, while striker Vydra is back in training after three weeks out with a hamstring problem.

Midfielder George Evans and forward Yann Kermorgant sit out as they are cup-tied.

Wayne Hennessey is expected to return to Palace's starting XI. The goalkeeper missed Sunday's 2-1 Premier League home defeat by Liverpool through injury, when deputy Alex McCarthy made a mistake, but alongside the fit-again Jason Puncheon is in contention.

Pardew is, however, without Connor Wickham and Marouane Chamakh, both owing to adductor injuries, and James McArthur, who has torn his ankle ligaments.

Opta stats

Crystal Palace have progressed on all three occasions they have met Reading in the FA Cup - in 1931 (after two replays), 1932 and 1953 (after a replay).

Reading have not kept a clean sheet in any of their six FA Cup matches against Palace.

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The last five meetings between these sides in Reading in all competitions have produced 24 goals.

The Royals have made the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the fifth time in their history, and the fourth time since 2010. They made the semi-finals last season, losing out to Arsenal after extra-time.

The Eagles have reached their first FA Cup quarter-final since 1995 - beating Wolves in a replay before losing out to Manchester United in the semi-final.

Reading have already beaten Premier League opposition in the FA Cup this season, beating West Brom 3-1 in the last round.

Palace have won five of their last six away games in the FA Cup, including each of the last four.

The Royals are unbeaten in all nine of their home games in 2016 so far (all competitions - W5 D4).

Alan Pardew's side have scored exactly twice in each of their last two away games, though they've failed to win either of them (D1 L1). All four goals were scored by Conor Wickham.

Betting

Crystal Palace are Sky Bet's 13/10 favourites for the victory with Reading given a 21/10 chance while a draw is priced at 12/5. The Eagles are currently rated 8/1 fourth favourites to win the FA Cup, while the only remaining Championship side are given a 40/1 chance with the Football League sponsor.

Emmanuel Adebayor is the favourite in a wide-open first goalscorer betting at 11/2, while Phil Thompson, fresh from landing 30/1 scorecast by correctly predicting Liverpool's 2-0 victory over Manchester United with Daniel Sturridge scoring first, is backing a 1-1 draw with Adebayor to score first, once again at 30/1 in his Sky Bet tips.