January is generally the month when the season is defined, by the time February dawns teams have a good idea of what is needed, results wise, to achieve their goals.

Also, the window for permanent deals closes. For League One sides, there is the worry that their best players may be sold and fans and management alike, breathe a sigh of relief when the window shuts.

The player attracting the most attention is Huddersfield hot-shot, Jordan Rhodes. Rhodes would command a fee of between £4-5 million and fans of rival sides are relishing the prospect of his sale. Not sure I agree though, Lee Clark has proved to be a shrewd mover in the market and could really bolster his squad with that kind of money.

Rhodes’ goals tend to come in clutches. Whereas Bradley Wright-Phillips has never scored a hat-trick, Rhodes has four to his credit this season alone. He netted five at Wycombe on Friday, four at Hillsborough as well as scoring three times on two other occasions. Yet at The Valley he was anonymous.

Chris Powell will need to think about his defensive options in particular. Leon Cort’s contract has been cancelled by Burnley. Unless Cort has been paid up or has an acceptable offer on the table, it seems strange that he would agree to Burnley’s action. What it means is, that for the moment, he is not available to Charlton.

The club could now sign him permanently but right now, Powell only has Doherty to provide experienced cover for Taylor and Morrison. Doherty, like Francis and Benson brfore him, does not appear to figure in the manager’s plans though.

Brentford’s Karleigh Osborne is again on Charlton’s radar but is currently sidelined with an injury. The Addicks really need to get something sorted before Saturday’s trip to Hillsborough. Cort and Osborne would be ideal signings with Osborne’s pace a real asset.

Chris Solly is the only recognised senior right-back and cover is needed for him too. A poacher to provide back-up for Wright-Phillips is also needed and reports suggest Charlton are amongst a clutch of clubs interested in signing Hibs’ former Birmingham striker, Garry O’Connor. O’Connor has a dubious reputation so Powell will think long and hard before making a move for him.

Good results against the two Sheffield sides would set the Addicks up perfectly for the three games in a week at the end of the month. They travel to Exeter on 28 January, face Bury at The Valley on Tuesday 31 January with Rochdale being the visitors on Saturday 4 February.

If Charlton were able to win all those games, they would have accumulated a points total that has been good enough to clinch a play-off place in some previous seasons.

Probably the busiest and most stressful month of the year for a football manager, January can also be the month when he puts the finishing touches to a successful promotion bid.