The ’emegency’ loan window closed until January at 5.00pm on Thursday but there are still a couple of loose ends for Charlton to tie up, namely the whereabouts of Paul Benson and Mikel Alonso.

Depending on which report you read, Benson’s move to Bradford fell through because he failed a medical or because the Bantams could not agree a fee to make the deal permanant in January.

The Sky Sports website posted a story this morning saying that when the Bradford deal fell through, Swindon agreed a loan and are waiting to see if the deal was registered by the Football League in time. Swindon signed Ipswich striker, Ronan Murray, on loan yesterday so it is unclear if they would have been in the market for another front man.

There were stories circulating that Mikel Alonso had left the club, no doubt fuelled in part by the midfielder not featuring in the games at Halifax, Bromley or Tottenham.

It would appear the Spaniard has little future at The Valley but he was definitely at the club yesterday.

One move that definitely did happen was the arrival of Preston midfielder, Darel Russell. The 31-year-old was formerly at Norwich and Stoke and will add to Powell’s options. Initially signed until 3 January, it would be no surprise if the deal was extended or even made permanent. The Mile End born player scored for Preston at The Valley in their Carling Cup victory earlier in the season.

Powell had earlier been thwarted in attempts to bring Hull’s James Harper and Aston Villa’s England Under-21 international, Gary Gardner, to The Valley on short term deals. Harper wanted to stay at Hull while Solihull born Gardner, understandably prefered the option to stay in the Midlands by joining Coventry.

Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield also strengthened their squads before the window closed.

Charlton’s reward for beating Yeovil in the FA Youth Cup is another home tie, this time with Cambridge United, in a game that will again be played at Welling’s Park View Road ground.

The Cambridge game, along with the Kent Senior Cup quarter-final tie at Margate, will be played on dates yet to be announced.

With all that activity, Powell will be pleased to refocus his attention on preparing the team for Monday’s showdown with Huddersfield.