Steve Coppell has warned striker Leroy Lita his days at the Madejski Stadium are numbered unless he starts scoring.

Lita has struck just once for Reading this season - against Swansea City in the Carling Cup nearly three months ago - and was omitted from the squad for Monday's 3-1 defeat by Arsenal.

It marks a bitter change in fortunes for Lita, whose three goals in the European Under-21 Championships last summer secured his inclusion in Uefa's dream team.

The 22-year-old shone in the second half of last season with a haul of 10 goals in 12 matches but Coppell has hinted his future at Reading is now under threat.

"Leroy hasn't been playing well. I need Leroy to be on the end of things, scoring goals," he said. "We're all judged on results - if I don't get results I'm out. It's the same for strikers - it's a competitive situation."

Coppell has preferred Dave Kitson and Kevin Doyle as his first choice strike partnership this season.

And with the Reading manager impressed by Shane Long's cameos from the bench, Lita may be facing a lengthy wait for the chance to end his drought.

"Jose Mourinho said a team picks itself and I would say that too," Coppell said. "I'm looking for combinations that are effective, scoring regularly and making a full contribution.

"Doyler has scored goals and Kits gives us something the others don't. Longy has been our most effective sub, as he showed with his role in our goal against Arsenal. He's scored off the bench and made an impact.

"In the previous home game against Newcastle he scored the winner and I don't want to knock him for six by leaving him out totally.

"He's our supersub - but he won't thank me for saying that."