Andre Bikey signed a permanent deal with Reading in April

The Royals manager is grumbling about Bikey having to attend and not being certain to play Wednesday's game.

Bikey has grown in stature in the Reading side under Coppell's tutelage since joining the club last year.

"He has a lot to learn still, but is a very enthusiastic student," Copell said.

"The shame of it all is that now he flies to Tokyo. It is a valid international week, but I would question the international motivation.

"It is a price to pay when you sign players who are not from these shores, I do realise that.

"But it is of no help to us when he is travelling halfway around the world to maybe not even play in a game.

"It is very demanding."

Bikey was due to fly out to Japan on Sunday.

He scored his first Premier League goal for Reading in the Royals' 2-1 defeat at home to Champions League side Chelsea on Wednesday.

Reading signed Bikey on a three-year deal from Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow in April.

The defender had been on loan at the Madejski Stadium since the start of last season and slowly established himself as a regular in Coppell's side.

The transfer fee was believed to be around US$2m.