Reading manager Brendan Rodgers will be without defender Andre Bikey for his first game in charge against Nottingham Forest.

Cameroon international Bikey was sent off in the first leg of the Royals' play-off defeat to Burnley last season and will sit out the second game of a five-match suspension.

Fellow centre-half Ivar Ingimarsson remains sidelined with the knee injury he suffered last January so Rodgers is set to partner Alex Pearce with new signing Matt Mills in defence.

Ryan Bertrand is also in line to make his debut at left-back after joining on loan from Chelsea while youngsters Hal Robson-Kanu and Scott Davies could make their first appearances for the club after impressing during pre-season.

Noel Hunt is available after four months out with a broken foot while brother Stephen - who is expected to depart the Madejski Stadium before the end of the month - is back in training after a groin problem but is not match fit.

Wolves target James Harper played against Chelsea last weekend after a lengthy lay-off with a groin problem to put himself in contention should he stay with the Royals.

Nottingham Forest boss Billy Davies is expected to include the majority of his nine summer signings.

Lee Camp should start in goal with Chris Gunter in front of him in the defence and newly-appointed captain Paul McKenna and Paul Anderson lining up in midfield.

Dele Adebola, Dexter Blackstock and David McGoldrick will contest the striking positions with Robert Earnshaw and Nathan Tyson, while on loan midfielder Radoslaw Majewski is likely to start on the bench.

However, one player that will not be available to the Reds boss is James Perch. He faces three months out with a broken bone in his shin and will miss out along with fellow defender Julian Bennett (knee) and midfielder Guy Moussi (thigh).