Jem Karacan hoping for quick return

Reading midfielder Jem Karacan has admitted that he is hopeful of returning to action within a month after injuring his knee against Liverpool.

The 23-year-old started in the club's defeat at Anfield, but was substituted 25 minutes in after tangling with Steven Gerrard.

The Turkish midfielder had already missed the start of the season as he recovered from a broken ankle that he suffered in June.

"I think I've opened up the medial ligaments a bit. When I did it I knew it wasn't great, but I was able to walk so I thought I could give it a go, but it was too loose. I'll know more this week. It's one of those things, but I've been here before. I'm hoping it won't be longer than a month," he told Sky Sports News.

"But I can't put any timescale on it until the scan. After breaking my ankle it's gutting - the worst runs through your mind. I eat, breathe and sleep football and knowing that will be taken away from me is the worst thing in the world."

Karacan made 37 appearances for the Royals last season.