Reading have been hit with a double injury blow ahead of Saturday's trip to Lincoln City, with Ben Elliott and Amadou Mbengue out.

The Royals travel up to Sincil Bank looking for a first win under Noel Hunt to kickstart a busy festive period.

Mbengue was taken off at half-time of Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Blackpool with a mild concussion, while midfielder Elliott limped off in the closing stages and is now seeing a specialist for a thigh injury.

Speaking to the media ahead of the trip to face the Imps, manager Hunt said: "Amadou [Mbengue] had a mild concussion so he will miss the weekend. [Ben] Elliott sustained a decent thigh injury. We’re waiting to see the extent of it- he sees a specialist tomorrow. Probably months rather than days.

"It has happened before- we lost Jeriel [Dorsett] last week. We have to get on with it and keep moving forward."

In more positive news, at least for the long-term, full-back pair Kelvin Abrefa and Andy Yiadom both returned to the grass during the week after suffering long-term injuries.

Club captain Yiadom is yet to feature since April and is expected to be missing for longer, while young Abrefa has returned to contact training.

"Both are on the grass- Kelvin was in contact training today so it’s positive that he came through that, Yids is back on the grass and jogging.

"It’s important that as much as we push, we don’t shove them in too early and they break down. As eager as I am to get them back, it’s important that we do it in the right way."

Almost 900 Reading fans are making the trip to Lincoln, the scene of a 1-1 draw last season, for the final away match of 2024.