Noel Hunt is likely to feature following his recent return to action, but defender Andy Griffin is likely to miss out with a hamstring problem.
Northampton are set to be without right-back John Johnson, who is struggling with a groin problem.
Goalkeeper Chris Dunn (ankle), defender Craig Hinton (knee) and winger Liam Davis (ankle) all remain sidelined.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• A win for Reading would be the club's 50th competitive victory over Northampton.
• Of their previous 96 meetings, the Royals have won 49 and Northampton 28, with 19 drawn.
• Reading knocked the Cobblers out of the League Cup in 1980 and 1993.
Reading
• Arsenal, in November 2005, were the last team to keep a clean sheet against Reading in the League Cup. The Royals have scored 25 goals in 10 ties since.
• The 1996 quarter-finalists have not been knocked out by a lower division club since Cambridge United beat them at the first-round stage in 2002.
• If selected, Brian Howard will be making his 300th career appearance.
Northampton
• Northampton are looking to reach the third round for the second time in three seasons.
• This is the eighth time in 10 League Cup ties that the 1965 and 1967 quarter-finalists have been drawn away from home.
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport