Experienced pair, Gary Doherty and Paul Hayes, have joined League One strugglers Wycombe on 3 month ’emergency loan’ deals.
This will keep them at Adams Park for the rest of the season though the Addicks have the right to recall either of them after the initial 28 days.
Doherty has been out of favour all season and the club have been trying to move him on for some while. Hayes’ star has waned since the arrival of Yann Kermorgant and he has struggled to even make the bench recently, with newcomers Leon Clarke and Danny Haynes being preferred.
The Addicks are now thin on the ground, striker wise. With Hayes joining Jason Euell and youngster, Michael Smith, on loan and Danny Haynes injured, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Yann Kermorgant and Leon Clarke are currently the only fit senior front men.
Wright-Phillips has gone more than three months since his last goal and Clarke has yet to impress. In the circumstances, it seems inconceivable that Powell will not move into the loan market. The question is, who will he bring in?
There are rumours linking out-of-favour Forest striker, Marlon Harewood, with a move to The Valley. Another Midlands based player being linked is Leicester’s 31-year-old front man, Darius Vassell. Powell has worked with both players which may, in part, have fuelled the speculation.
Another name has been mentioned to me by a source with Forest connections and may have some mileage. Harewood and Vassell do not necessarilly fit the template of hungry young players with something to prove or reliable, solid older heads with good attitudes.
Perhaps a 25-year-old who has shown glimpses of real ability, but has yet to realise his full potential may relish the opportunity to join a promotion chasing team.
The Addicks do seem to have been sniffing round Championship strikers who may be available on loan, with a view to making the deal permanent in the summer. Maybe, just maybe, that player could be Matt Derbyshire.
Whoever it is, Powell will want to bring him in quickly.