Reading defender Jeriel Dorsett is set for 'at least another couple of weeks' on the side lines after sustaining injury during a 5-2 defeat at Bolton Wanderers in September.

The full-back, who was a key part of Ruben Selles' plans for the past 12 months, had started as first-choice left-back and featured in every match up until sustaining an ankle injury in Lancashire, with the original prognosis 'four to six weeks.'

READ MORE: Reading FC injury update: Dorsett joins growing missing list

As this period has elapsed, 16-year-old Andre Garcia has performed admirably and continued to shine a light on the Academy- hardly looking out of place as the Royals embarked on a run of five wins in six matches.

A three-game winning streak was ended on Tuesday, Stockport County cruising to a 4-1 victory at Edgeley Park.

Star striker Sam Smith is set for a spell on the side lines with a foot injury, and it transpires Dorsett will join the fellow Academy graduate.

"I think Jeriel will take at least a couple of weeks more," Selles confirmed in Greater Manchester. "It is not about him not wanting to do it, his body is always taking a bit more time to recover from injuries or be fit. He is a massive player for us, but I will not try to make excuses when we lose matches for players that aren’t there.

"We are where we are. We have been winning matches and been competitive without Jeriel. We want him with us, but we don’t need to make heroes of players that aren’t playing for us. We’ve shown we are good enough but today we were unfortunately not good enough."

Reading face back-to-back cup matches before the next League One fixture at Stevenage, with Fleetwood Town visiting Berkshire in the FA Cup on Saturday before a trip to Cheltenham Town in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy on Tuesday.