Steve Coppell is hoping his African players fall at the first hurdle in Ghana and return to help Reading's Premier League campaign.

Coppell has Senegal's Ibrahima Sonko, Cameroon's Andre Bikey and Emerse Fae from the Ivory Coast away for the African Nations Cup and he admits recruiting players in the January transfer window is proving difficult.

"We've got the lads away in the Nations Cup, and let's just wish them back early," said Coppell.

"Sorry to wish them ill, but in my mind I'd rather they were knocked out in the groups!"