Charlton Athletic step up their pre-season plans when they face a tough trip to Gillingham on Saturday afternoon.

Paul Hayes has denied rumours that he could be going back to Scunthorpe on loan. Hayes played in a testimonial at Glanford Park on Sunday for Iron legend, Cliff Byrne. He scored a hat-trick too! Hayes enjoyed his most successful spell when he was with Scunthorpe under Nigel Adkins. Much of the Iron’s good fortune was down to Hayes’ prolific partnership with Gary Hooper.

Thus far, he has only appeared in the development squad fixtures and clearly does not figure in Chris Powell’s plans for the forthcoming season. The player was not even included in the party that travelled to Spain fr the pre-season training camp.

A more likely possibility for Hayes may be a move to Colchester. A native of Essex, and now residing in the county again, a move to Colchester would appear to tick a lot of boxes for him. Such a move would probably see long time Charlton target, Anthony Wordsworth, make the reverse journey down the A12.

The signing of Salim Kerkar seemed to have made a move for Wordsworth unlikely but the Camden born 23-year-old can also play in central midfield. His versatility would be a good asset for Powell to have at his disposal.

Another player reported to be interesting the Addicks is Wandsworth born, Michail Antonio. Ironically, Antonio was on loan at Colchester for the first half of last season, playing on the opposite flank to Wordsworth.

Reading loaned him to Sheffield Wednesday for the second half of the campaign and Antonio was a sensation at Hillsborough, where he replaced Ben Marshall, who was recalled by Stoke.

A pacy, talented player, Antonio is – like Wordsworth – a 23-year-old. Whether he is considered good enough to be in Reading’s Premier League squad though, is doubtful.

The Addicks travel to Gillingham on Saturday and Powell will probably utilise the same 22 players he selected for the trip to Crawley. As the big kick-off draws closer, there may be fewer changes made during the game. Powell probably has a good idea of his first choice team by now and will want to bed them into the system he will use at St Andrews.