Derby vs Reading preview - Thorne back for Rams

George Thorne will make his long-awaited return to the Derby squad against Reading in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Thorne has not featured for the first team this season due to a knee injury but the midfielder is set to be involved in the fifth-round tie after playing virtually a whole game for the Under-21 side on Wednesday. Rams head coach Steve McClaren has even hinted that the 22-year-old may start the match.

That good news is tempered by the loss of top scorer Chris Martin. The 19-goal striker faces around three weeks out with the knee problem that forced him off at Bournemouth in midweek.

Another absentee for McClaren is Tom Ince, who has scored three goals in his two appearances since arriving on loan from Hull. The forward is cup-tied having played for his parent club in their third-round defeat at Arsenal.

Reading have added fit-again midfielder Danny Guthrie to their squad.

Guthrie has made just eight appearances during an injury-hit season but has now recovered from the groin problem which has kept him out for the last month.

Full-back Chris Gunter will miss out with an ankle injury while Jem Karacan and Anton Ferdinand also remain on the sidelines.

Midfielder Karacan, recently back from a long-term knee injury, sustained a knock playing for the club's Under-21s and centre-half Ferdinand has suffered another setback in his recovery from a calf problem.