Reading manager Steve Coppell has told out of favour striker Leroy Lita that "the truth hurts" and challenged him to fight for his place at the Royals during his loan spell at Charlton.

Coppell sent Lita to Alan Pardew's Addicks for a month to gain match fitness after he did not even make the bench for the crucial 1-0 win away at Middlesbrough last weekend.

"I had a conversation with Alan Pardew and it just seemed the right thing to do," Coppell said.

"Reserve team football does not serve its purpose. We played Chelsea this week and for once they played a really strong side. Leroy scored, but now he's better off playing red-hot competitive football at the top end of the Championship.

"He is upset at not playing regularly. If he feels harshly-treated that's understandable: sometimes the truth can hurt. That applies to everyone at the club, including the staff and myself.

"Strikers get more frustrated than any other position. This was just a short-term solution. Whether it proves a long-term solution, I don't know."

Coppell denied that he had a big fall-out with the England Under-21 star, who has started only seven league matches compared with Kevin Doyle's 27 and Dave Kitson's 21.

"There's no edge to Lee," he continued. "People say we had an argument, but there was no argument - we simply had a disagreement about my selection policy.

"I have to be true to myself. If he scores goals [he's got a future here]."

The fourth main striker at the club, Shane Long, started only his fourth league match this season at the Riverside alongside Doyle and helped the team win three points after seven consecutive defeats. Coppell is impressed by his attitude.

"I made the change last week. Shane was the one who has not complained. He's the only one who hasn't had a chance and he's had to be patient.

"He's a different personality to Lee. He was ready to play and his energy was high last week."

With another key match coming on Saturday at the Madejski against Manchester City, Coppell said Sky Blues boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has proved he is a top class coach in the most demanding domestic league in the world.

"Sven came in a new man with something to prove after England," he added. "He's ticked a lot of boxes this season, although this is a testing time for him.

"He won't have given up hope of a European place - and I'm sure he'll look at this game as a chance to get back on track.

"For someone like Sven, English football is now the biggest test. In the Champions League three teams are through [Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea] with the prospect of a fourth [Liverpool].

"At club level this is the big stage. The Premier League is watched across the world. From a professional perspective, you can find no sterner test."

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport