Gooding spent eight years at Reading as a player and manager (Getty)

Lita, 23, has joined Charlton on a 28-day loan deal after struggling to force his way into the first team despite good form for the reserves.

Gooding said: "We could certainly see Leroy Lita scoring goals for Reading before the end of the season.

"Reserve-team football is good up to a point, but you can't beat playing in a first team."

"In fairness to the Reading strikers, the problem of late has been there haven't been many chances for them."

If that means he comes back in four weeks and helps Reading stay up, everyone will be happy Ex-Reading manager Mick Gooding

Gooding, a summariser on BBC Radio Berkshire, said Lita's lack of first-team opportunities made a move inevitable.

"He's been scoring goals in the reserves and there wasn't any room for him on the bench on Saturday.

"So I'm not really surprised that they've let him go out on loan because it doesn't look as though they were going to use him in Reading's first team immediately.

"I'm sure at Charlton, Leroy Lita will have chances created for him and I'm sure he'll score goals there.

"If that means he comes back in four weeks and helps Reading stay in the Premier League, then everyone will be happy."