Reading manager Steve Clarke has revealed that he plans to make "significant changes" to his side for the midweek visit of Everton.

The Royals have made a positive start to their league season by losing just two of their opening eight Championship fixtures.

Clarke is hoping to mount a promotion push this term, and will therefore use the League Cup tie against Premier League Everton as a chance to rotate his squad and give fringe players an opportunity to shine.

"We're looking forward to a really good League Cup tie against Everton this week, and we're looking to continue this run," he told the club's official website. "The players are relishing the challenge.

"I've got a number of players who need to play - they have worked really hard and trained really hard. I'll tell the supporters now that there will be a significant number of changes to the team, but it's great evening for them to come along and let everyone see that we've got a really good squad here.

"All of the players are going to make a contribution over the course of a very long and difficult Championship season. The boys that went into the game against Bristol City went in with a good attitude and saw the game out comfortably for us. At the moment this is what the substitutes have to do. When they get the chance to start games, they have to show me that they deserve to be in the starting 11."

Reading brought in 11 new players during the summer transfer window to bolster their ranks.