Royals boss Mark Bowen gave a promising update on the fitness of three first team players at his press conference on Thursday lunchtime.

Bowen confirmed that Chris Gunter and Sam Baldock are back training with the first team squad and are closing in on a return to first team action.

Lucas Joao has returned to training with the first team and completed a 75 minute session on Thursday as he continues his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury sustained on New Year's Day.

The future of Lucas Boye's Reading career is in doubt after the loanee returned to Italy to have an operation on a hernia problem. 

With Italy currently in lockdown due to the Coronavirus outbreak - it is not known when, or if, Boye will return to Berkshire. 

Tom Mcintyre will be out of action for 'another few weeks' according to Mark Bowen.