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He returns to Championship action for Reading FC this weekend following the international break.

Paul Ince’s side make the short journey west to take on Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Saturday afternoon in the first of eight remaining games this season.

The Royals’ status in the second tier remains uncertain with a nine-point gap separating them from the bottom three, while there is a constant threat of a possible English Football League (EFL) points deduction.

READ MORE: The two big decisions facing Reading this summer as the forgotten duo enter the final year of deals

City are just three points ahead of Reading in the league table and look destined to finish in the middle of the table this year.

As we get closer to the big game, here’s all the early news from the Royals team.

Yakou Meite

The attacker has been out for almost a month due to an unspecified injury. He last played for Middlesbrough during a 5-0 defeat in early March, but is expected to return in the near future.

Speaking this week on the club’s website, he said: “Hopefully I’ll be fit for this weekend, so it’s a good opportunity to regroup and work on things for the next few games.”

possible return: Saturday

baba rahman

The left-back was injured during the win over Rotherham in mid-February with an ankle injury. He has seen him miss the last seven matches, but he is expected to return after this international break, so expect him to be in contention for Saturday’s game.

possible return: Saturday

long shane

The veteran striker will miss the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury. His last appearance came in a 2-1 loss to Blackburn Rovers in mid-March.

Given that he is 36 years old and out of contract this summer, Long may have played his last game for the club.

possible return: A stranger

liam moore

The defender limped off with a foot injury in the early stages of a 1-1 home draw against Hull City almost two weeks ago. He is the latest in a series of setbacks for the center back, who had struggled to recover from a career-threatening knee injury.

Since he’s out of contract in the summer, he may have also played his last game for Reading.

possible return: A stranger

tom mcintyre

Like Moore, McIntyre limped out of the Hull City game in the first half. McIntyre’s injury was a hamstring problem and boss Paul Ince revealed after the game that he would “probably” miss the rest of the season.

possible return: A stranger

Junior Hoilett

The winger suffered a hamstring injury in training and was forecast to be sidelined for six to eight weeks. The end of that comes at the end of the season, so he faces a race against time to return before the final game at Huddersfield Town on Monday May 8.

possible return: A stranger

mamadou loum

The FC Porto loanee is in the midst of a three-match suspension after receiving a straight red card for a header during a 2-1 loss to Blackburn Rovers. He is ruled out of the Bristol City clash as well as the home game against Birmingham City on Good Friday.

He is due back for the match at Preston North End on Easter Monday.

possible return: Easter monday

sam hutchinson

The defender withdrew after 14 minutes with an Achilles tendon injury in January’s draw with QPR and has not played since. He is another player who seems unlikely to return this season.

possible return: A stranger

Ovie Ejaria

The former Liverpool man has not featured since a 2-0 defeat at Watford in November. However, he has been pictured back in training in recent weeks, so a return may be on the cards in the coming weeks.

possible return: April

Dejan Tetek

The season of the young Serbian midfielder is over after he picked up an injury earlier in the year. His place in the matchday squad was taken by Chelsea loan Cesare Casadei.

possible return: A stranger

BerkshireLive will have full coverage of Bristol City vs Reading FC in the Championship at Ashton Gate. Our live blog begins at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon and begins at 3:00 p.m.

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