Lita rejects lifestyle jibes

Leroy Lita has rubbished suggestions that a curb in his lifestyle has been a major factor in his magnificent form of late.

The England Under 21 international is in a rich vein of form that has seen him plunder 10 goals from his past 10 games, including an equaliser against Spain on Tuesday night.

Such headline grabbing performances are a far cry from his goal-shy displays earlier in the season, with his private life also having been under scrutiny following an altercation that took place outside a Bristol nightclub.

Lita has always insisted that he is a model professional and that at no time in his Reading career has he had to take a step back and consider his conduct.

On the contrary, the former Bristol City favourite believes his current upturn in fortune is simply a reward for all the hard work he has put in since becoming a Premiership player.

"There was nothing wrong with my attitude or lifestyle," said Lita.

"Why would I make any changes if there was nothing wrong with it?

"I have always been the same. People will read things and they make their own decisions about it but I don't even read the papers, I don't believe most of the things that are said.

"You can say anything about a footballer and if they are in the limelight people will just make something of it anyway. For me it doesn't matter. I just stay the same, just make sure I work hard in training.

"The gaffer has given me the chance to get back in the team and I've done well so stuff like that doesn't bother me one bit.

"Criticism doesn't exist for me. People can say what they want - it goes in one ear and out the other.

"I put myself under pressure and no-one can affect me more than myself."