Reading v Charlton Athletic

NEW boss Les Reed takes charge of Charlton for the first time at Reading on Saturday without Senegal international central defender Souleymane Diawara and midfielder Amady Faye.

Diawara has not recovered from the hamstring strain that forced him off in Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at Wigan while Faye is serving a one-match suspension.

Midfielder Radostin Kishishev is doubtful with a hamstring injury sustained while on international duty with Bulgaria.

Better news for Reed is that midfielders Dennis Rommedahl and Jerome Thomas have reported fit, while leading scorer Darren Bent is expected to recover in time from the hamstring strain that forced his withdrawal from the England squad.

Reed, 53, took the reins after Iain Dowie's sacking on Monday and admitted: "It was a shock and a surprise when the chairman, Richard Murray, asked me to take charge.

"But I’m delighted that the club have got that faith in me. Now, I want to repay that."

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