Reading Football Club News

• Nickname:Royals
• Founded:1871
• Manager:Brian McDermott

• Ground:Madejski Stadium
• Capacity:24,200

Coppell challenge for Shorey

14 Sep 2007 - 09:53:01

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Reading manager Steve Coppell has urged Nicky Shorey to concentrate on recapturing his best form after seeing a transfer window move to West Ham United fail to materialise.

The England left-back the subject of an approach from the Hammers before the window closed last month.

Reading rejected a reported £5million offer for the 26-year-old defender and Coppell now wants him to focus on improving his performances and help the struggling Royals pull away from the lower reaches of the Premier League table.

"He would prefer to be plying his trade at a higher level. That's his long-term goal and he is, on a monthly basis, being excited by the challenge of playing for England," admitted Coppell.

"Now we have got to get him excited by the challenge of playing for Reading again.

"We need him to be right at the top of his game and there are quite a few players who have yet to reach the levels they were performing at last year."

Shorey made his England debut in May's friendly with Brazil at Wembley.

The former Leyton Orient defender also stood in for regular left-backs Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge during last month's friendly defeat by Germany.