Flint returns as one of three changes

Flint lines up alongside Nathan Baker in central defence, replacing Bailey Wright following his recent international jaunts to Japan and Australia.

A knee injury means Eros Pisano is absent, with Zak Vyner taking over at right-back, while Callum O'Dowda comes into the team in place of Marlon Pack, meaning a likely shift into central midfielder for Josh Brownhill.

On the substitutes bench, new signings Luke Steele and Jonathan Leko are both named for the first time.

Reading: Mannone, Gunter, Blackett, Moore, McShane, Van den Berg, Kelly, Bacuna, Barrow, Aluko, Bodvarsson. Subs: Jaakkola, Beerens, Evans, McCleary, Edwards, Ilori, Clement.

City: Fielding; Vyner, Flint, Baker, Bryan, O'Dowda, Brownhill, K.Smith, Paterson, Reid, Diedhiou. Subs: Steele, Magnusson, Wright, Pack, Eliasson, Leko, Woodrow.

Referee: Mr J Linington