Karacan may return for new boys Reading

Reading were set to decide today whether to include Jem Karacan in their squad for their first Barclays Premier League game for four years.

Manager Brian McDermott revealed yesterday midfielder Karacan was “desperate” to put the seal on his return from a broken leg against Stoke tomorrow.

The Npower Championship winners will be without Jimmy Kebe (hamstring) and Jason Roberts, who serves a two-match ban.

Provisional squad: Federici, Gunter, Gorkss, Pearce, Mariappa, Morrison, Shorey, Harte, McAnuff, Guthrie, Leigertwood, Tabb, Karacan, Gunnarsson, McCleary, Pogrebnyak, Le Fondre, Hunt, Robson-Kanu, McCarthy.