Lita 'ready to return'
Lita has missed the opening two weeks of the new season
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Wednesday, 22, Aug 2007 03:54
Leroy Lita has claimed he is ready to return to action for Reading this weekend after spending two weeks on the sidelines with a freak hip injury.
The 22-year-old developed a problem with his hip flexor muscle when he was getting out of bed earlier this month, which caused him to miss the Royals' opening three matches of their second Premier League season.
Lita resumed full training earlier this week and is hopeful that manager Steve Coppell will consider him for selection when the Berkshire side visit the Reebok Stadium to face bottom side Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
"I started kicking the ball on Monday so I'm going to train and see how it is," Lita told the club's official website.
"I hope I'll be fit enough for Bolton, I feel fine and the injury feels OK. There's still a little bit there but I can do all the kicking and other things and I am feeling good and ready to go."
Lita's injury was widely publicised in the media because of the freak nature of it.
But the striker, who was expected to miss up to four weeks of first-team action, said he found the experience more painful than amusing.
"I knew it was serious straight away as I couldn't move and was in a lot of pain," he continued.
"I'm a bit surprised at the speed of my recovery. The first day I did it I was on crutches and it was really sore but it improved everyday and it is a lot better now."
Despite being tipped for a relegation battle this season, Reading have started the season at a sprint considering the calibre of their opposition.
An impressive goalless draw at Manchester United on the opening day was followed by a narrow 2-1 home defeat to Chelsea, after being 1-0 up at half-time. They then followed this up with a 1-0 win over Everton at the Madejski Stadium and will hope to continue their good form at winless Bolton this weekend.