The Royals have eight first team players away on international duty this week:

Ryan Bertrand (England u21s)
Andre Bikey (Cameroon)
Simon Church (Wales)
Brynjar Gunnarsson (Iceland)
Stephen Hunt and Shane Long (Ireland)
Jem Karacan (Turkey u21s)
Hal Robson-Kanu (England u20s)

We had a handful of other players who were named in provisional international squads but not needed for the final selections and did not travel.

There has been plenty of media coverage regarding this current international week, which clashes with first round Carling Cup fixtures.

This international week is in place because of the upcoming World Cup in South Africa and there are qualifying games being played; so too friendlies.

Earlier this year, the Football League consulted with member clubs over the best way to manage this extra set of international fixtures. An option considered was the possibility of playing the Carling Cup first round last week and therefore before the start of the League season, but it was felt that playing this week was the best solution.

Manager Brendan Rodgers told readingfc.co.uk, "We're fortunate to have a good squad of players that I can put in and have equal solutions in the team.

"We can still field a strong team full of good players and quality and progress well. Our international guys come back on Thursday afternoon and I have faith in all the group.

"If a player is in my group of 22 then he is a talent. I am looking forward to seeing them on Tuesday night."