We'll need our 12th man - Johnson

The City head coach is well aware how much energy has been zapped from his injury-hit squad during December, in which they have secured four wins and a draw to date.

Next up is a Boxing Day tussle with Jaap Stam's Royals, who are 11 points adrift of the play-offs after a surprise home defeat to Burton Albion on Saturday.

"I like the way Jaap's team plays its football and they will be another difficult test," Johnson told BCTV.

"Yes we got a good result at their place earlier in the season (a 1-0 win) but that has gone; this is a completely different game.

"I know it's a cliché but we will need our supporters again, our 12th man, to really get behind the lads and push them on."

City's players will be granted Christmas Day off to spend with their families.

Jamie Paterson is a doubt after suffering a hamstring injury in the warm-up at QPR, which forced him to be replaced on the substitutes bench.

A crowd in excess of 20,000 is expected, with the top tier open.

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