Long needs fitness test

Reading striker Shane Long will take a fitness test on a thigh problem before tomorrow’s Barclays Premiership trip to Manchester City.

Defender Ibrahima Sonko has been ruled out for the rest of the season with cruciate ligament damage to a knee, so new signing Michael Duberry may be handed an instant debut.

Fellow newcomer Greg Halford should also be in the squad but the third of last month’s signings, defender Alan Bennett, is not included – and striker Kevin Doyle remains on the comeback trail from a hamstring tear.

Provisional squad: Hahnemann, Murty, Duberry, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Little, Sidwell, Harper, Hunt, Lita, Long, Kitson, Federici, Halford, de la Cruz, Pearce, Sodje, Bikey, Oster, Convey, Gunnarsson, Seol.