Fulham midfielder Lasse Vigen Christensen will not be risked in the next two league matches, boss Kit Symons has said.
The Dane has been recovering from a hamstring injury aggravated in the FA Cup draw with Wolves two weeks ago, when he had been rushed back after just one day of full training.
But Symons said he wanted the 20-year-old to come through a whole week unscathed, which would mean not being available until next Saturday’s FA Cup fourth round tie at Sunderland.
The Whites boss said: “He was running alongside the pitch today and he was absolutely flying, so he’s very close.
“There would be a temptation to potentially look at him for Wednesday [against Nottingham Forest], which I’m not going to take this time.
“So we’re going to make sure he gets a week’s training under his belt and if all goes well hopefully he’ll be in for selection for Sunderland.”
Sean Kavanagh has also been ruled out of this weekend’s league game with Reading, after having stitches in a cut to his knee sustained in the FA Cup replay at Wolves on Wednesday.
The midfielder is expected to be out for 10 days.
Bryan Ruiz is fit again, while Alex Kacankilic and Ryan Tunnicliffe are available for selection after being ineligible for the FA Cup replay.
Follow West London Sport on Twitter
Find us on Facebook