Reading boss Steve Coppell is in the hunt for a striker and that could be bad news for Shaun Goater?s first team chances.

The Bermudian frontman got his first start in three games on Saturday when Reading beat then-table-toppers Wigan 1-0 at the Madejski Stadium.

Prior to the weekend he had been on the bench for the previous three games, two in the league and one in the Carling Cup.

Coppell, who took over recently after a protracted search for a new manager following the departure of Alan Pardew to West Ham, has seen his side reverse the slide they were on before his arrival and begun to close in on the top spots. However, he still thinks there needs to be some changes if the club is to mount a serious promotion challenge.

Two players, Kevin Watson and Nathan Tyson, both midfielders, were placed on the transfer list after becoming frustrated with the lack of first team opportunities afforded to them.

If they were to move on it would free up some cash for a new striker, but Coppell says it would only be in terms of paying the wages of a loan player.

?I knew when I came here there wasn?t the money to buy players without getting rid of someone first, but there?s no-one I want to get rid of,? Coppell said.

?I think the signing of (defender) Ivar Ingimarsson has taken us part of the way towards tightening up the defence, although there?s still some work to be done there.

?What we need now is to be more prolific up front, so I am looking for a striker on loan.?

Goater and his strike partner Nicky Forster have scored 14 goals between them, the latter getting the lion?s share. Forster has nine to Goater?s five.

The club?s next match is against Millwall on Saturday and it will be interesting to see if Coppell is able to bring someone in before the weekend.

If he does it could see the new player paired with Forster with Goater having to make do once again with the bench.