Lita has been scoring regularly for Reading reserves (Getty)

The 23-year-old frontman has struggled to force his way into the first team this season and will be at the Valley for 28 days.

Coppell said allowing him to go was a "calculated risk" but it seemed "the right thing to do".

He said: "He, like a few other players, are upset about not playing regularly, which is a natural reaction."

"I have four strikers. In an ideal world, all four of them would have been happy to stay and fight for their place, but they get frustrated and get down about their particular scenario - and strikers more so than most.

"This is just a short-term solution. Whether it proves to be a long-term solution, I doubt it but we'll just wait and see what happens after 28 days.

Reserve team football doesn't serve its purpose in keeping people at a high level of fitness and match-sharpness Reading boss Steve Coppell

"Sometimes I can't explain the combinations I choose. It's down to past performances, training and gut feeling and for whatever reason, he hasn't been included recently.

"In conversation with [Charlton and former Reading boss] Alan Pardew, we talked about him and it seemed the right thing to do.

"Hopefully he'll be playing games, he'll be match-sharp and if after a month we need to call him back, we can do and I know he's ready to play."

Lita has been in good form playing for the reserves, scoring again this week as Reading beat Chelsea 2-1. But Coppell said it was not enough for the former England Under-21 man.

"Reserve-team football doesn't serve its purpose in keeping people at a high level of fitness and match-sharpness. There are very few games in our reserve-team calendar.

"We played Chelsea this week and for once they played a really strong side.

"It was a really pleasing game and Leroy scored, but some of the fixtures don't fit the bill, so he's better off playing red-hot competitive Championship football at the top end to maintain his sharpness and hopefully he'll score goals and be available for us at the end of the season."