LEEDS United's star striker Chris Wood is a doubt for Saturday's clash against Reading FC.

The 27-goal hitman withdrew from New Zealand's second World Cup qualifier with Fiji today after picking up an injury in their first match.

Wood scored in that first game in Wellington as New Zealand won 2-1, but he also took a painful blow from a heavy challenge towards the end.

If the 25-year-old fails a fitness test it would be only the third Championship games this season he has missed for promotion-rivals Leeds.

It would also be a massive boost for Jaap Stam's Royals as they look to avenge their 2-0 defeat at Elland Road in December to strengthen their position in the play-offs.

Wood, who was shortlisted for the Championship's Player of the Year award yesterday, is flying home before his injury is assessed by Garry Monk's medical staff.

Reading go into Saturday's televised clash at Madejski Stadium in fifth position in the table and just two points behind Leeds above them.

And Royals midfielder Joey van den Berg is urging his team-mates to keep fighting to the end, having earned an impressive 2-0 victory at sixth-placed Sheffield Wednesday last time out before the international break.

“We have to keep going now,” stressed the 31-year-old Dutchman. “There is pressure but I think you need a bit of that to perform at your best. I hope everybody feels the same way.

“I'm confident we can do it. We don't need to look at the table a lot, just take it game-to-game, stick to our plan and focus on ourselves.”

He added: “It's understandable fans will look at the table, that's the experience of the supporters.

“But as players our focus must be on ourselves, how to improve and how to learn from our mistakes. We need to stop talking and act.”

Reading Chronicle:

Reading's Joey van den Berg.

Stam will welcome back his international players towards the end of the week in preparation for the clash.

Chris Gunter starred for Wales in their 0-0 draw with Republic of Ireland in Dublin which was marred by Seamus Coleman's broken leg.

Royals teammates Paul McShane and Liam Kelly were forced to pull out of the Ireland squad through injury.

Deniss Rakels continued his recovery from a broken ankle with 21 minutes for Latvia in a 1-0 defeat in Switzerland and was due to be involved in today's home clash with Georgia.

John Swift came of the bench for England Under 21s in a 1-0 defeat in Germany whole on-loan West Ham defender Reece Oxford played twice for England U19s in a 3-0 wins against both Norway and Spain.

In addition, goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi (Oman) and winger Adrian Popa (Romania) have been away in the past fortnight, as have Luke Southwood (England U20), Axel Andresson (Iceland U21) and Danny Loader (England U17s).