Little - who made over 100 appearances for the Royals before joining Portsmouth last summer - is back at the Madejski on loan until the end of the season.
However he is short of match fitness having rarely featured for Pompey this term and may not be involved against the Addicks.
Shane Long was handed a rare start at Plymouth on Saturday but failed to score in the 2-2 draw so Coppell may ask Noel Hunt or Leroy Lita to step in alongside top scorer Kevin Doyle.
Marek Matejovsky was involved in both goals at Home Park and looks to have cemented a starting role in midfield so captain James Harper will again be on the bench.
Defender Alex Pearce scored at the weekend but also had stitches in a cut head and is doubtful so Andre Bikey could return for his first start since January 3.
Ivar Ingimarsson is a long-term absentee and out for the rest of the season with a knee injury while club captain Graeme Murty is back from his loan spell with Charlton after another calf injury.
Phil Parkinson is pondering changes to his starting line-up for the trip.
The Addicks boss, who made 424 appearances as a midfielder for the Royals, hinted he may bring in one or two youngsters after the disappointing 3-2 defeat by Watford on Saturday so Jonjo Shelvey and Josh Wright could start.
China captain Zheng Zhi could also figure prominently after making his comeback from five months out with a foot injury as a second-half substitute at The Valley.
Tresor Kandol will keep his place in attack after scoring twice against Watford with Shelvey, Deon Burton or Chris Dickson likely to partner the on-loan Leeds striker.
Jonathan Fortune (Achilles), Jose Semedo (ankle) and Andy Gray (pelvis) remain sidelined.
Sporting Life