Reading striker hurt in freak incident

Reading boss Steve Coppell tonight revealed striker Leroy Lita could be out until next month after the England Under-21 international suffered a freak injury in bed.

Lita damaged a muscle while stretching after he woke up, and has been unable to train for the last two days.

And Coppell said: “It’s not an injury that should be ridiculed or made light of.

“From what I was led to believe he was injured stretching in the morning.

“It’s a point of laughter but a serious business for him because he’s going to be out for three or four weeks.”

Coppell added on Sky Sports News: “It’s a legitimate injury caused in a way which ordinarily would not affect anyone anywhere.

“He’s been massively unlucky.”

The club’s medical staff will continue to monitor the former Bristol City marksman’s injury – but Coppell’s words mean he is unlikely to feature in Sunday’s Premier League opener against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Lita enjoyed a successful first season as the Royals made a steady start to life in English football’s top flight, netting 14 goals in all competitions - seven of which came in the Premier League.