When a club changes its manager, the players have to prove themselves all over again.
There is good news for some – Johnnie Jackson for instance. Jackson barely featured under Guy Luzon this season, but Karel Fraeye’s arrival has seen the skipper back in favour again.
For others, Zakaraya Bergdich and Franck Moussa spring readily to mind, things have not gone as the players would have wished.
Tony Watt is currently on loan at Cardiff, and the deal is expected to be made permanent in January.
Bolton lost at home to Cardiff on Saturday, with Watt scoring one of the Bluebirds goals. Trotters manager, Neil Lennon, spoke to the Bolton News after the match and revealed he had wanted to bring the young Scot to Bolton:
“I could have had Tony Watt – Charlton offered him to us and we couldn’t afford to pay him.
“His wages weren’t massive, and if Tony would have been playing on the other side of the pitch, we would have won the game,” said Lennon.
The South London Press reported on Tuesday that the Addicks are looking to sell Moroccan left-sided player, Zakaraya Bergdich, in January.
The 26-year-old penned a four-year deal in the summer, and it is likely that his future lies in Europe.
Despite Charlton’s squad being stretched recently, Franck Moussa has not been involved. It appears that the former Coventry player does not figure in Fraeye’s plans. It would be no surprise if he moved on next month.
The current jewel in the Addicks’ crown is 18-year-old attacker, Ademola Lookman, who has already been linked with some of the Premier League giants.
Lookman came to Charlton’s attention when he represented a London FA side against the Addicks’ Under-16 team.
Folowing a trial period, he signed on at The Valley and was an instant hit, scoring 18 goals in 27 appearances for the Under-18s last season.
Lookman has already matched that tally this season, notching 10 goals for the Under-18s, 7 for the Under-21’s, plus that stunning first goal for the senior side at Brighton on Saturday.
Arsenal are reported to have had representatives at all of the Peckham youngster’s senior appearances.
Manchester City are another club showing interest, and it is believed they would want to loan Lookman straight back to Charlton.
The player has said that he wants a longer commitment with the Addicks, so it is no foregone conclusion that he will move on in January.
If Lookman opts to stay at The Valley, it would provide some much needed cheer for Charlton fans.
The management team have identified a number of targets they would like to bring in during January. The budget for new recruits will obviously be affected by any outgoing moves.
One player who will return to The Valley next month, is Callum Harriott. Harriott has had a successful loan spell at Colchester, and scored two of the goals that saw off Altrincham on Sunday.
Colchester’s reward was a home Third Round game against the Addicks. The winger will be able to give Fraeye an insight on what to expect.
Harriott had his best spell in a Charlton shirt under Jose Riga and Fraeye, scoring five goals in the last two games of the 2013/14 season.
The interim head coach has been to watch Harriott recently and the Lambeth born wide man looks set to revive his Valley career in the New Year.