Harte handed Reading captaincy

Reading manager Brian McDermott has made seven changes for the Royals’ potentially tricky FA Cup third round trip to Crawley, with Ian Harte appointed captain for the first time.

Shaun Cummings and Sean Morrison have been given starts at the back for Reading, Noel Hunt and Adam Le Fondre were partnered up front while Jay Tabb, Gareth McCleary and Hal Robson-Kanu came into midfield.

Crawley, who reached the fifth round in each of the last two seasons and warmed up for Reading with a 3-0 League One victory over Colchester, were unchanged.

Crawley Town: Paul Jones, Sadler, Walsh, Connolly, Hunt, Adams, Simpson, Akpan, Mike Jones, Clarke, Alexander.

Subs: Kuipers, Torres, Bulman, Akinde, Cooper, Byrne, Elford-Alliyu.

Reading: Federici, Cummings, Pearce, Morrison, Harte, McCleary, Karacan, Tabb, Robson-Kanu, Hunt, Le Fondre.

Subs: Taylor, Gunter, Shorey, Mariappa, Church, Guthrie, Ugwu.

Referee: Anthony Taylor.