Goater injury add's more problems for Coppell

By Mark Sugar
November 30 2003

Steve Coppell has been dealt a major blow with the news that striker Shaun Goater needs surgery to discover the full extent on a knee injury.He is expected to be out for at least a month.This is not good news for Coppell who also has Darius Henderson injured,leaving the Royals very short up front.

Steve Coppell will claim there is someone out to get him since taking over as Royals boss.Coppell has simply had injury after injury,with Shaun Goater joining the list.The ex Man City striker hasn't played since the 1-0 victory over Dennis Wise Millwall on the 15th November.It was thought Goater had sore knee's but the striker will need explatory surgery tomorrow to find out the real injury.
This leaves the Royals short up front with only 2 fit striker's.Darius Henderson is 3 weeks from a return,yet he has played very little games this season with injury after injury.Andre Fashanu,a highly rated academy striker broke his ankle while on-loan at Farnbrough Town and this leaves Coppell with just Nicky Forster and Bas Savage.
If the Royals are to get promoted,then a loan move is needed asap.But Premiership clubs are facing injuries aswell,meaning clubs won't allow striker's to go on-loan.1 player I hope Coppell will attempt to get is Wolves Dean Sturride.The striker hasn't featured much this season,and if the Royals were to make a move they would face stiff competition from Sheffield United.But the Royals have problems,and if the club wants to stay with the pact leading the 1st Division,a striker is needed.