Shaun Goater has suffered a setback in his bid to regain his place in Reading's line-up.

The Bermudian striker had looked to be on the road to recovery following a knee operation that has sidelined him for the past month. However, he has now picked up a fresh injury and will need further time out before he can be considered for action.

Reading physio Jon Fearn told the club's official website yesterday: "Shaun Goater has suffered a new calf injury on his return from a knee op.

"(He) suffered a setback when he pulled out of training on Monday with some problems in his calf. We will review it as soon as possible to see how serious it is.

"It may just be a response to having been out of training for so long, but we cannot say."

With the frontman unavailable, fellow striker Darius Henderson, only just returning to full training from his own injury, and just Nicky Forster available up front, Reading boss Steve Coppell sealed a loan deal for Sheffield Wednesday's Lloyd Owusu yesterday and is in talks about a permanent deal for coveted Cambridge United forward Dave Kitson.

While Owusu's stay at the Madejski Stadium is temporary, for the moment at least, the possible arrival of Kitson would mean extra competition for 33-year-old Goater.

Reading director of football, Nicky Hammond, said: "I have spoken at length to Cambridge and, in principle, agreed a fee that is acceptable to both parties.

"We'll now speak to the player and try to agree personal terms. Those talks will take place over the next 24 hours or so."

Any move for Kitson that would see him available for the Boxing Day game with Wimbledon and the weekend clash with Walsall would have to be completed by midday, English time, today.

Because it is not yet a done deal, the 6ft striker Owusu has been drafted in.

"I know Lloyd from Brentford," Coppell told the Reading Evening Post. "He's obviously not done brilliantly at Sheffield Wednesday but I have got to look at options with Shaun Goater and Darius Henderson being injured."

Coppell said he was forced to act following two consecutive 3-0 defeats.

"On Saturday I looked around on the bench and couldn't see any options," he said. "Lloyd will give me a physical presence and pace. By his own admission he's not the most silky-skilled player in the world, but he can score goals."