Reading v Brentford confirmed team news: Carvalho makes first start in 11 months | OneFootball

Brentford head coach Keith Andrews has made eight changes for Tuesday night's trip to face Reading in the Carabao Cup, with Fábio Carvalho making his first start in 11 months.

The players remaining from the Bees' 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on Saturday are Kristoffer Ajer, Mamadou Sangaré and Keane Lewis-Potter.

Carvalho comes into the side for the first time since Brentford's 5-0 win at Grimsby Town on 28 October 2025, when the midfielder scored from the penalty spot.

He was subsequently sidelined with an ACL injury before returning with the B team and featuring for the first team in pre-season against Rennes.

Ellery Balcombe is coming in to make his second appearance for the club, after featuring against Newport County in the Carabao Cup second round on 29 August 2023. The game finished 1-1, with the keeper saving two penalties as Brentford won the shootout 3-0.

El Hadji Malick Diouf makes his first start for the club at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, while Callum Wilson also returns to the starting XI after scoring in the previous round at Birmingham City in the 6-1 win.

Reading: Pereira; Ahmed, Masterson, O'Connor, Roberts; Savage, Fraser; Williams, Stokes, Kyerewaa; Reid

Subs: Stevens, Godwin-Malife, Dorsett, Wing, Earthy, Brown, Lisbie, Lane, Beacroft

Brentford: Balcombe; Kayode, Ajer, Diouf, Henry; Damsgaard, Sangaré, Carvalho; Ouattara, Wilson, Lewis-Potter

Subs: Kelleher, Hickey, Fredrick, Schuster, Yarmoliuk, Janelt, Anthony, Schade, Thiago