BURNLEY are anxiously awaiting the results of a scan amid fears that Wayne Thomas could be ruled out for the rest of the season with a cruciate knee injury.

The defender's setback, in a late tumble with former Clarets winger Glen Little, overshadowed yesterday's 2-1 defeat away at Reading where Garreth O'Connor also picked up a straight red card in stoppage time.

And Clarets manager Steve Cotterill admitted he feared the worst when the results of Thomas's injury are finally confirmed.

He said: "Glen fell over the ball and landed on Wayne. If the scan shows what we think it might be - a cruciate injury - then he probably won't play again this season.

"That probably sums up what's happening to us at the moment. It's very frustrating and that will be a massive blow to us because he was just starting to get an understanding going with John McGreal."

Ade Akinbiyi's sixth goal in as many games cancelled out Leroy Lita's early strike at the Madejski Stadium, only for Kevin Doyle to win it for the Royals with 20 minutes to go.

And completing a miserable afternoon, Micah Hyde suffered a hamstring injury and O'Connor saw red for a late kick at Bobby Convey to leave Cotterill happy to see the back of August.

The Burnley boss said: "It's been quite a tough month for us and we probably need the (two-week) break to go away, recharge our batteries, lick our wounds and then come back fighting stronger than ever in September.

"I thought we were better than Reading and there is no way we deserve to be coming away from that game with nothing.

"The very least we deserved was a point, but it seems whatever we do at the moment it's a Judas month for us.

"We are paying a heavy price and I don't know why because we have played better than our results have suggested. Hopefully by the time we come back Frank Sinclair and Wade Elliott will be available and maybe even Danny Karbassiyoon."

Cotterill, who made a dramatic triple swoop last Friday to boost his numbers by signing Jon Harley, John Spicer and defender Keith Lowe on-loan from Wolves, now has just two days to look to add more depth to his squad before the transfer window closes until January.

I understand Burnley recently made moves to try to land Paul Gallagher on loan from rivals Blackburn Rovers, only to be told the Premiership side were not keen on releasing the striker, who yesterday joined Stoke City on a season-long loan.

However, asked if he might sign anyone before Wednesday's midnight deadline, Cotterill said: "I don't know the answer to that at the moment."