Reading boss Steve Coppell insists fullback Nicky Shorey won't be offloaded in January.

"What I said was if any player is unhappy here that it's probably best that they go," he told Sky Sports News. "Any manager will say you don't want people in your club that don't want to be there. In the past Nicky Shorey has mentioned that his contract is up.

"We've made him an offer to sign a new contract and he's said he's happy to see this one out at the moment to give him more options.

"That doesn't infer that he's unhappy here. It's just the modern day footballer. It's not a risk because it's not our choice. It's his choice and it's his decision.

"Like a lot of footballers you're in a magnificent position when you're coming to the end of a contract. You have a choice and you can decide what your future is.

"I've got nothing but respect for players who have the confidence in their own ability to say 'I'll take the risks that are involved I'll go to the end of my contract'. It's no big deal to me."