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Struggling Royals recall Lita in bid to end scoring drought

21/04/2008

Reading have recalled striker Leroy Lita from his short-term loan at Charlton Athletic in a bid to improve their recent profligacy in front of goal.

The Royals have failed to score in more than six hours of football - drawing blanks in their last four matches against Arsenal, Fulham, Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers.

And as a result, Steve Coppell's side find themselves hovering precariously above the Premier League trap door, just one point ahead of third-from-bottom Birmingham City.

Lita scored three goals in eight starting appearances while with the Addicks, including a brace in a 2-1 win at Plymouth Argyle which saw the visitors play for 87 minutes with ten men.

And Coppell, who let Lita leave temporarily as he had fallen behind Dave Kitson, Shane Long and Kevin Doyle in the pecking order at the Madejski Stadium, believes the former England under-21 international could provide a vital boost.

"Leroy has been playing regular football for Charlton and will be raring to go," he told the Reading website.

"It was an obvious decision to make given the fact that we've not scored lately."

Coppell revealed he contacted Alan Pardew about recalling Lita on Saturday evening, after Charlton's 1-0 defeat at QPR ended their slim hopes of making the top six.

"We agreed it would be beneficial to us to bring Leroy back and it's impossible for Charlton to get into the playoffs," Coppell added.

Lita trained with Reading on Sunday and will be available for selection for the final three Premier League games of the season against Wigan Athletic, Tottenham Hotspur and Derby County.

He has scored 30 goals in 62 starts for the Berkshire club since joining from Bristol City in the summer of 2005.