Reading boss Steve Coppell is ready to allow Ibrahima Sonko to play in The African Cup of Nations if he is called up by Senegal.

Coppell also expects Cameroon international Andre Bikey and Ivory Coast international Emerse Fae to play the ACN.

"We've had a great run of keeping him [Sonko] here! He's resisted the temptation for many years," Coppell told the club's official website.

"He could have played regularly I believe, but gave his full weight to us. Maybe now the time is right for him to go with his country.

"We'll probably lose him, Bikey and Fae for the tournament, but the squads haven't been announced yet. Three players is probably par for most clubs.

"I've been speaking to a lot of managers this week, we're all positioning for January. It's a case of withstanding the loss, and it might trigger moves that may not have happened otherwise."