Striker Sam Parkin will be back in training on Thursday and is expected to be fit enough to face Reading on Sunday. The £450,000 summer signing from Swindon has a back problem which he aggravated during the 2-1 against Crewe.

Physio Dave Williams told the club site: "Sam jarred his back leading up to the Crewe game and shouldn't really have played.

"He was restricted in his movement and had to come off at the break, and has been having treatment since then.

"We hope he will be back in training on Thursday and then it will be a case of seeing if there is any reaction leading up to the Reading game."

The Blues also expect keeper Lewis Price to be fit to face the Royals despite not being considered fit enough to make his debut for Wales against Azerbaijan this evening in Cardiff. Price injured a hip in training late last week and is understood to be missing tonight's match as a precaution.

Midfielder Ian Westlake is the only member of the senior squad on the sidelines at present but was back in light training yesterday after injuring his ankle last month.

Meanwhile, young Irish full-back Michael Synnott has been released from hospital after his ankle operation. The FA Youth Cup winner will be out of action until February.

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