Reading's Marriott facing extended injury layoff

Leam Richardson says Reading striker Jack Marriott might be back "towards the latter end of the season" after suffering another hamstring injury.

The 31-year-old last played in his side's 1-1 draw at Port Vale on February 21.

The former Wrexham and Peterborough forward has been in fine form since joining the Royals last summer, scoring 17 goals in all competitions this season, but Richardson says he will not be available again in the short term.

"He's had another reoccurrence of a hamstring injury so that's obviously disappointing," Richardson said. "For the length of time, we wouldn't know - it certainly won't be in the next week or two (that he'll be back).

"But hopefully if things go well, we might see him towards the latter end of the season."

The Royals host Plymouth Argyle on Saturday with Richardson expecting to face a very different side to the one they beat 4-1 at Home Park in December.

Plymouth have won five of their last six league fixtures, including an emphatic victory over Cardiff last month, and Richardson does not believe that meeting in Devon earlier this season will have any impact on the game this weekend.

"Plymouth are a totally different team now, they play a totally different way, they have a totally different mindset and thought process," he said.

"They have scored 27 goals since we played them, 17 set pieces and five transitions and five open-play goals so that'll tell you what we are about to face.

"It is up to us to make sure we are mindful of that and moving forward we are able to adapt and challenge that."

Reading are seventh in the table, just one point outside the play-off places, while Plymouth are two points further back in 10th.