Graeme Murty has suffered a setback in his fight for full fitness.

The Royals skipper has been sidelined by a niggling calf injury that he picked up during pre-season.

He had made good progress in the last month and played in Reading’s last three reserve matches.

However, he was taken off 20 minutes before the end of their 1-1 draw with QPR on Monday after suffering discomfort in his calf.

Royals boss Steve Coppell said: “Murty had to come off again in the reserve game the other day as the calf is still not right.

“It is obviously massively irritating as he can still feel it. It won’t require surgery as it is a soft tissue injury, but his progress just goes so far. Then when he starts playing flat out it’s still there.”

Although the right back does not require an operation, any hopes of first-team football look like being put on hold until next month.

Meanwhile Czech international Marek Matejovsky is also looking at another month out of action.

The midfield playmaker suffered an ankle injury in the opening Championship match of the season at Nottingham Forest on August 10.

Read Wednesday's Evening Post for more.