Reading midfielder Brian Howard is set for a spell on the sidelines after the club confirmed he broke his jaw in the 2-1 defeat at Derby on Saturday.
Howard will have an operation on Monday afternoon to repair the damage he suffered early on at Pride Park.
"Brian has fractured his jaw and he is having surgery to put stabilising metal plates in it," physio Jon Fearn told the club's official website. "It is difficult to say how long he will be out and we will have to see how the operation goes."
He added: "Under normal circumstances it is four to six weeks before you are allowed contact but it could be sooner with protection."
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