Reading head coach Leam Richardson has said he will be without a number of key players for their game against Stockport County on Saturday.

The Royals will miss some players because of injury, suspension and international call-ups as they travel away to take on the second-placed Hatters.

Richardson's team sit sixth in League One with six wins from 14 games.

They beat Peterborough United 5-0 in the FA Cup on Saturday before losing on penalties to Bristol Rovers on Tuesday in the Jersey Mike's Trophy.

"[Jacob] Brown is still struggling with his ribs coming off the back of Wednesday [against Oxford]," Richardson told BBC Radio Berkshire.

"Jeriel [Dorsett] has been called up to Montserrat but he's had a little knock as well so we'll be without the pair of them at the weekend.

"Paudie [O'Connor] is at five [yellow cards] so that'll be him suspended as well - it's a huge [miss] as he's been really consistent and reliable for us.

"He's a big personality on the pitch and off the pitch so it's disappointing because I didn't think it was a booking as well on Wednesday night in the Oxford game, but is what it is.

"We've got to make sure we overcome, adapt and make sure we prepare as well as possible for these games."

Reading will also be without injured defender Josh Knight and midfielder Andy Rinomhota, who Richardson believes will serve his suspension for picking up five yellow cards while on international duty with Zimbabwe.

Reading's match at Stockport on Saturday will be their fifth consecutive away game across all competitions, last playing at Select Car Leasing Stadium in late October.

Richardson said the club have had to carefully plan their travel and recovery in recent weeks as they played at Plymouth, Oxford, Peterborough, Bristol and now in Greater Manchester this weekend.

"We've had to make sure we're diligent with our travelling and everything else with our preparation," he added.

"I'm really looking forward to it and think it'd be a really good game. Fingers crossed we're prepared and get a positive result to finish these away days in this block off.

"They've been in the play-offs and have been recruiting very well, spending money on different players and always challenged at the top end of this level which is what every club is after.

"They're a really good team as well and are well-coached so it'll be a really good game."