Reading vs Birmingham City. Sky Bet Championship.
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Tuesday 2 January 2018 11:00, UK
Reading will check on midfielder Liam Kelly ahead of the visit of Sky Bet Championship strugglers Birmingham on Tuesday (kick-off 8pm).
Kelly missed both the Boxing Day defeat at Bristol City and Saturday's draw at Barnsley, where John Swift and Garath McCleary returned to the starting line-up along with defender Tyler Blackett.
Striker Jon Dadi Bodvarsson could be in contention after coming off the bench for the closing stages, but winger Callum Harriott (hamstring) remains unlikely to be involved.
Forward Joseph Mendes and midfielder Stephen Quinn (both knee) are also still in rehabilitation, while defender Jordan Obita is out for the season after surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament.
Birmingham have no fresh injury worries as they look to climb off the bottom of the table.
Che Adams (hamstring) and Isaac Vassell (knee) remain sidelined for Steve Cotterill's side.
Arsenal loanee Carl Jenkinson remains is out a he continues to recover from a shoulder injury he suffered in August.
Record signing Jota is pushing to start after earning praise from Cotterill following his cameo off the bench although Marc Roberts will be monitored after playing 90 minutes on his comeback from a hamstring injury.
Reading haven't conceded a single goal in any of their last three league matches against Birmingham since Jaap Stam took charge (W2 D1).
The Blues are unbeaten in three league matches at the Madejski Stadium (W2 D1), keeping three clean sheets.
Since a run of 15 consecutive home matches unbeaten in all competitions between January and August 2017, Reading have lost six of their last 11 (W2 D3).
Steve Cotterill has lost each of his last four league matches away at Reading, with all defeats coming with different clubs (Burnley, Portsmouth, Nottingham Forest and Bristol City).
The Royals have lost one of their last 16 home matches in January in all competitions (W11 D4), though it did come last season against QPR.
Birmingham have won two of their last 27 away matches in all competitions and failed to win any of their 12 this season (W0 D3 L9).
