By Mark Sugar
February 10 2004

Reading striker Nicky Forster is to have a second scan on his stomach injury after failing to respond to treatment in the last 2 weeks.This comes as a big blow to Royals manager Steve Coppell who needs the top goalscorer back soon to help fire some goals into the Royals team. Nicky Forster has proved year after year how much of a key player he is to Reading,and if there is ever a time we need him back then it has to be now.

Forster has been suffering with this troublesome stomach injury for 5 weeks now and despite playing the full 90 minutes against struggling Nottingham Forest, it was decided in the best interests that Fozzy fully recovers from injury in order to fire the goals that will hopefully send the Royals into a Playoff position.

Forster is set to go for a scan tomorrow but its not yet known if he'll be fit for the game against 1 of his former clubs,Gillingham on the 21st February.

Another player doubtful is Steve Brown.The defender was substitued in the 5-1 defeat to Rotherham United,and now physio Jon Fearn has confirmed that Brown suffered a swollen knee,on the same one that required surgery at the end of the last year.Adie Williams is already suspended for the game leaving Ivar Ingimarrson and Ricky Newman the only fit and available centre backs.