Cardiff vs Reading preview - Cardiff monitoring internationals

Posted Thursday, November 20, 2014 by PA

Cardiff must assess the condition of their international players before manager Russell Slade names his squad for the Sky Bet Championship home game with Reading on Friday.

Wideman Anthony Pilkington picked up a slight strain while on Republic of Ireland duty and striker Kenwyne Jones did not arrive back in Wales until Thursday afternoon after playing for Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean Cup final against Jamaica.

Central defender Bruno Ecuele Manga did not play for Gabon in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers during the international break after picking up a calf injury at Bolton on November 4 but he did travel to Africa where he was assessed by his international federation and Mats Daehli also saw limited game-time for Norway.

Cardiff manager Russell Slade said: "It's a little frustrating when we say you have to wait seven or 10 days for this one and four or five days for that one and they're still looked at."

Reading midfielder Hope Akpan will miss out after suffering a disclocated shoulder while on international duty with Nigeria which will rule him out for three months.

Boss Nigel Adkins is also without defender Anton Ferdinand, who is still recovering from the calf injury he sustained on his debut earlier this month.

Midfielders Jem Karacan and Danny Williams remain sidelined by knee injuries but Adkins is set to welcome back two long-term absentees.

Winger Garath McCleary will travel after recovering from the back surgery he underwent over the summer and defender Shaun Cummings is also fit after three months out with a knee injury.