Long in line for Cup return

Reading boss Brian McDermott will be boosted by the return of striker Shane Long for the FA Cup quarter-final clash with Aston Villa on Sunday.

The Republic of Ireland international has missed the last four games through suspension after he was sent off in the fifth round draw with West Brom but he may have to make do with a place on the bench due to the Royals’ recent good form.

Winger Jobi McAnuff is suspended, however, while on-loan Blackburn defender Zurab Khizanishvili is cup-tied and will miss out.

Midfielders Jem Karacan (hand) and Kalifa Cisse (dead leg) remain sidelined as McDermott’s side look to cause another cup upset after already knocking out Liverpool and Burnley.

Reading (provisional squad): Federici, Griffin, Ingimarsson, Mills, Bertrand, Kebe, Tabb, Howard, Sigurdsson, Church, Rasiak, Hamer, Pearce, Henry, Gunnarsson, Matejovsky, Long, Robson-Kanu.