Reading have confirmed that their upcoming League One fixtures against Wycombe Wanderers and Bradford City will go ahead as planned, even though three first-team players have been called up for international duty during the extended break.

Midfielders Andy Rinomhota and Charlie Savage, along with defender Jeriel Dorsett, will all be absent while representing their respective nations. Under EFL rules, clubs are entitled to request the postponement of a league fixture when three or more players are called away for international commitments. Royals head coach Leam Richardson has chosen not to exercise that option for either game.

Who is going and where

Rinomhota, who has started all six of Reading's League One matches so far this season, will link up with Zimbabwe for African Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against Sierra Leone and DR Congo. He has been one of the more consistent performers in Reading's midfield and his absence will be felt.

Savage, 23, has made six substitute appearances in the league this term and has been recalled by Wales. Craig Bellamy's side have a packed Nations League schedule, facing Portugal, Denmark (twice) and Norway. It is a significant recall for the midfielder, who made his senior Wales debut against Gibraltar in October 2023.

Dorsett, who has made two league starts for Reading, has been selected by Montserrat for four fixtures: two against the British Virgin Islands and two against Turks and Caicos Islands.

Why Richardson chose to keep the games on

The decision to maintain both fixtures is a deliberate one. Five of the nine League One games scheduled for this Saturday have already been postponed, with seven of 11 the following Saturday also called off across the division. Richardson, however, was keen to keep his side in rhythm.

"Football is a squad game and we have confidence in the players available to us, while keeping the fixture in place also helps us avoid adding another game to an already busy schedule," Richardson said.

"It's better for the supporters too. Saturday afternoon is the ideal time to play football whenever circumstances allow, so we were pleased to keep this one in place."

That is a reasonable calculation. Postponed fixtures have to be rescheduled, which invariably clusters games into already congested periods later in the season. A blank midweek can quickly become a fixture pile-up come March or April, when the pressure of the promotion and relegation picture intensifies.

What it means for Wycombe and Bradford

For Wycombe Wanderers and Bradford City, the news is straightforward: their plans remain unchanged. Both clubs will prepare for their respective away days at Reading knowing the games are on.

Bradford, currently in strong early-season form, will travel to Reading confident after a positive start to their League One campaign. Wycombe, meanwhile, have been building momentum of their own and will be equally eager to keep their schedule intact rather than face a rearranged date down the line.

Reading, for their part, will need to show depth in their squad across both fixtures. Losing Rinomhota in particular, a player who has been present from the first whistle in every league game this season, is a genuine test of Richardson's options in the centre of the pitch. How the Royals cope without him will tell us something useful about the quality available beyond the starting eleven.

Frequently asked

Are Reading's games during the international break still on?
Yes. Reading have confirmed their League One fixtures against Wycombe Wanderers and Bradford City will both go ahead as scheduled, despite three players being called up for international duty.
Which Reading players have been called up for international duty?
Midfielder Andy Rinomhota (Zimbabwe), midfielder Charlie Savage (Wales) and defender Jeriel Dorsett (Montserrat) have all received international call-ups during the extended break.
Can Reading postpone their League One fixtures because of international call-ups?
Under EFL rules, clubs can request a postponement if three or more players are called up internationally. Reading qualify, but head coach Leam Richardson chose to keep both fixtures in place to avoid a backlog later in the season.