Reading FC manager Noel Hunt confirmed after their FA Cup contest with Burnley that defender Amadou Mbengue will be out of action with a knee injury.
The Royals exited the FA Cup with a 3-1 loss to the side that sit second in the Championship, Burnley.
Reading took the game to extra-time when Lewis Wing equalised to make it 1-1, but a double from Zian Flemming sent the Clarets through to the fourth round.
Speaking to BBC Radio Berkshire after the match, Hunt confirmed that he expects Mbengue to miss around six weeks with a knee issue.
The 22-year-old central defender has become a vital cog in Reading’s first-team since joining on a free transfer from Metz in 2022.
Being deployed mainly as a centre-back alongside Tyler Bindon, Mbengue has also shown impressive versatility as a full-back and also a defensive midfielder.
He made 37 appearances in League One last season and has played 19 times in all competitions so far this season.
He now has a total of 01 games for the Royals and has scored four times.