Published: Thursday, 7th August, 2008 13:00
Coppell weighs up Forest options
By Anthony Smith
Comments (0)
Print Article
King Kev: Kevin Doyle gives Aston Villa the runaround and is in line to start against Nottingham Forest in Sunday's Championship opener.
STEVE Coppell will keep a number of positions open right up to Sunday’s big kick-off against Nottingham Forest (Sky Sports, 1.15pm ko).
The Royals boss is yet to decide what team he will send out for the Championship curtain-raiser at the City Ground and is challenging his players to show him how much they want the shirt.
It is thought a number of key areas are causing him concern, including up front where new signing Noel Hunt is vying for a start after impressing the manager since his recent £600,000 move from Dundee United.
But Coppell is reluctant to drop Kevin Doyle or Leroy Lita, while Shane Long is also waiting in the wings.
Coppell also has a selection headache in central midfield with Kalifa Cisse and Marek Matejovsky, who are both fit again, fighting for the right to partner James Harper.
Coppell explained: “I probably know eight of my team at this point, but I’m not so sure about the others. I’m still waiting to see what happens.
“At this stage everyone expects to play. It’s a new season and everyone expects to win, it’s just the way it is. We’re no different to anybody else in that respect. I’ve got some important decision still to make between now and Sunday.”
The sale of Dave Kitson to Stoke City for £5.5 million blunted Reading’s attacking threat powers, but the arrival of Hunt, who scored 18 goals in the Scottish Premier League last season, will surely soften the blow.
Now Coppell faces the task of keeping his four strikers happy. “I think we need four,” he argued. “If you go with only there and one gets injured you don’t have any options.
“I think I know which two will play on Sunday, but all that could change between now and then.
“Right now each one of them thinks he should be playing. You get that at the start of the season when there is nothing but optimism.”
Optimism has undoubtedly grown during an unbeaten pre-season campaign in which Lita and Hunt in particular flourished alongside youngsters like Julian Kelly.
Kelly, 18, looked comfortable in the final pre-season friendly against Aston Villa last weekend which Royals drew 1-1 and he could be in the squad at Forest.
That probably depends on whether Reading can finalise a deal to sign a replacement for Nicky Shorey who, Coppell has admitted, will be gone before the end of the week.
If he can’t Stephen Hunt will drop to left-back with Bobby Convey in front of him.
“Pre-season has gone very well for us,” beamed Coppell. “We did a lot of pleasing things against Aston Villa but you have to remember there was no Barry or Sidwell, Reo-Coker played full-back and Agbonlahor only came on at the end.
“There were a lot of cogs missing from that machine, Yes we did okay, we looked after our own agenda. But we know better than to get carried away.
“You can have as many rehearsals as you like but you will only find out the true quality of your squad when you enter the arena for real.
“I don’t know an awful lot about Forest but any team that gets promoted will be riding on the crest of a wave.
“They’re a big club and the fans there are desperate for success again. The club has shown tremendous strength which goes back many, many years. They will be expecting to make a statement against us, I have no doubt about that.”
If Reading had banked on keeping a low profile this weekend they will be disappointed. With the rest of the Championship playing on Saturday, the eyes of the nation will be watching Sunday’s televised clash.
“We would have preferred to have played on Saturday, I must be honest,” Coppell admitted. “We would have slipped in with all the other fixtures but now everyone will be looking at us.
“But it’s no big deal, it’s actually a gesture of respect for a club who has been in the Premier League for the last two seasons and another as big as Forest.
“They’ve been in the lower division for the last couple of years and this will be a good, early indication for everybody.
“We know from when we were promoted that winning your first game is not a 100% requirement but we’ll be going there with that very intention.”
Further Details
Lita in shock recall?