Coppell content with Sidwell

Steve Coppell insists Steve Sidwell's situation is not causing him too much concern.

The former Arsenal midfielder is very much a key man at Reading and with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, it is thought he will not be short of offers from elsewhere.

Sidwell remains a long-term target of Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce but while Coppell admits he is eager to keep the player at the Madejski, it is not something that is monolopolising his thoughts.

With Coppell willing to accept that were he in Sidwell's position, he too would remain non-committal, it would appear the player's situation will only be resolved come the campaign's conclusion.

"It's no problem for me," Coppell told Sky Sports News.

"I accepted the situation during the summer. In a way, if I was him, I'd probably be doing the same thing.

"The bottom line is that he has to be producing a level of performance. He's a lot tougher on himself than a lot of the others.

"He has to make sure he has to perform but Siddy is a good player. He has got to play well for the team.

"We will keep knocking at the door and try to entice him to sign for us. I appreciate it must really be an exciting time for any young player coming to the end of their contract.

"Big clubs might be after him and there might be a possibility of foreign football.

"He has got to prove himself by not talking in the newspapers but by playing well on a weekend."