Madejski says he has two first teams at Reading

Royals boss Steve Coppell has raised eyebrows by sticking by his policy of using fringe players in the Cup.

"When you have a squad of 38 players you need to give everybody a chance," Madejski told BBC Five Live.

"Just because we happen to be playing United, to leave out the players that have got us so far would not be right."

Interview: Reading boss Steve Coppell

And Madejski insisted the team selection was not a sign that Reading were indifferent about progressing in the Cup.

"We're going there to win," he said.

Just because we are playing one of the big sides I am not going to change. Reading boss Steve Coppell

"Basically we have two first teams at Reading and they're both equally good. We beat Birmingham away in the last round, who were the in-form team in the Championship.

"It would be terribly de-motivating for the players who have got us this far to suddenly drop them."

The likes of Bobby Convey, Seol Ki-Hyeon and Ulises de la Cruz are set to get their chance for Reading, while United are also set to rest several key players.

Coppell said: "It is nothing to do with trying to protect those who played in the last league game, no way.

"Just because we are playing one of the big sides I am not going to change.

"We will attack the game and if we had no desire to win we wouldn't have won the two previous rounds, 100% I want to win on Saturday.

"I have no idea what team they will put out. I'm not really interested. But I hope he fields his strongest team and I said that before the last round at Birmingham.