Three missing for Reading FC at Sheffield Wednesday in FA Cup fourth round

Reading FC boss Jaap Stam will be without three key players for Friday's FA Cup clash at Sheffield Wednesday.

Defenders Omar Richards and Paul McShane, along with midfielder John Swift will all be missing for the fourth-round game at Hillsborough (7.45pm kick-off).

The trio have hamstring injuries and Richards had to come off at half time during last Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Brentford at Madejski Stadium.

Both sides - who made the Championship play-offs last season - have struggled for form this season and Royals sit in 18th position, just one place and three points below the Owls.

So they will be seeing the FA Cup as a chance to reclaim some momentum for the rest of the season.

Here is the full match preview.

When and where

The match takes place at Hillsborough on Friday, January 26.

Kick-off is at 7.45pm.

How to follow the game live

getreading will be providing live updates of the game on Twitter. Make sure you follow @getreadingfc too for the latest news as well as Jonathan Low's account @jonathanl50.

And keep an eye on the getreadingfc Facebook page for news and pictures, including a fan gallery.

Is it on TV?

The game is not being televised, but you can follow Jonathan's commentary on Twitter and listen on BBC Radio Berkshire.

There will be highlights from all fourth-round games on BBC One on Saturday, January 27 at 10.30pm.

Team news

Sheffield Wednesday: The Owls have 10 players out injured: Keiren Westwood, Tom Lees, Joost van Aken, Sam Hutchinson, Kieran Lee, Almen Abdi, Barry Bannan, Steven Fletcher, Fernando Forestieri and Gary Hooper.

Lees and Bannan are back running again but won't be involved in time for the match. Glenn Loovens is available after completing a two-match ban.

Omar Richards will be missing for Reading

Reading: Royals will be without Omar Richards, Paul McShane and John Swift due to hamstring problems.

Joseph Mendes and Callum Harriott are still a number of weeks away from returning to the first-team set-up.

Managers' views

Jos Luhukay: "The teams are very close in the league so it's a 50-50 game.

"Reading have a good structure in their team and a good system. They have fast wingers and are dangerous there so we have to focus on stopping their qualities.

"The game will be very hard for both teams but hopefully the home fans an give us a couple of per cent more on the pitch."

Andries Ulderink (assistant): "I think both teams will want to use the game to gain confidence to take into the upcoming league games because both have some really important fixtures coming up.

"They have changed their formation a bit on the pitch – they play a bit of a different system to their previous manager [Carlos Carvalhal]. That’s always interesting in the Championship – you often see changes in the way a team plays, so every game is a new challenge."

Third-round games

Reading beat Stevenage 3-0 in a third-round replay

Both teams needed a second go before qualifying for the fourth round of the competition.

Reading saw off League Two Stevenage with a 3-0 win in a replay at Madejski Stadium after initially drawing 0-0 at the Lamex Stadium.

Wednesday also drew 0-0 at Carlisle United before winning the replay 2-0.

Officials

The referee will be John Brooks and the assistant referees are Akil Howson and Craig Taylor.

The fourth official will be Ross Joyce.

Why Friday?

The match was switched to Friday evening due to Sheffield United also being drawn at home.

Their clash with Preston North End takes place on Saturday afternoon, so to avoid extra congestion in the town, the FA moved Reading's game which was set to take place at the same time.

Reading's original game for this weekend - away at Burton Albion in the Championship - has been rearranged for Tuesday night.