Coppell defends Lita move

Lita: Charlton loan move

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• Charlton Athletic
• Reading

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• Leroy Lita

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Reading boss Steve Coppell has defended his decision to loan Leroy Lita to Charlton for an initial month.

The striker has joined the Championship outfit at a time when the Royals are in a tough relegation fight.

The 23-year-old's loan move has left Coppell with just three recognised strikers in Kevin Doyle, Dave Kitson and Shane Long for the crucial period ahead.

But the Royals manager said Lita was frustrated with a lack of first team football and letting him join a Championship club was better than keeping him in the reserves.

He told Sky Sports News: "I think he has become really frustrated at not getting a chance to be back in the line-up again.

"Sometimes I think a manager just can't explain why he makes changes. It's his gut feeling, it's a little bit of everything.... I have found it difficult to explain to him why he wasn't back in there.

Right thing

"I just felt it was the right thing to give him the opportunity of regular football with Charlton for a month.

"It keeps him really sharp. I think reserve team football is not what it's meant to do - it doesn't keep you sharp all the time if you're playing on non-league grounds.

"It is far better for Leroy to be playing in front of 20,000-30,000 and really going for a significant prize, part of a club who are winning games and hopefully he'll score goals and be available to come back to us."