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The £150,000 signing has played just once since mid-November having fought fruitlessly against a troublesome injury.
Kitson signed for Reading on Boxing Day before making his debut a week and a half later. So debilitating has been the youngster's hamstring a twelve minute showing against high-flying Ipswich has been all he can muster thus far.
The big frontman told the official site that he has been told by some that next year is his 'big year' at Reading. Despite this, he is still hoping to make an impact on the first team before the current campaign is out.
"People have said to me that I've got nothing to lose between now and the end of this season, that I can find my feet and then start with a full tank in the summer but that's not for me because it's not the way I am."
However, lacking full fitness one must believe that Kitson has little chance of making the first team with Nicky Forster, Shaun Goater and Lloyd Owusu all eager to take the two starting spots.
So, as time goes by, with his injury failing to heal, Dave Kitson appears increasingly resigned to writing his chances of becoming a first team regular off for this season.
He added: "I really don't want to say that you won't see the best of me until next season but as the weeks pass by that seems to be the case.
"Also, travelling from near Cambridge has been taking a lot out of me and I'm trying to get that sorted as soon as I can, get myself settled and stake a claim."
Yet, with Shaun Goater finding goals hard to come by, and Lloyd Owusu's future only secured at the club until mid-February, Coppell is bound to give the 24-year-old goalscorer his chance at some point before the season is out.
Realistically, the jury has to remain out on the signing of the Third Division forward until next season as it appears apparent that injury is going to stop the youngster reaching his potential this season.