By Chris Thompson
With wins for MK Dons and Sheffield United on Saturday, Charlton will be playing catch up in front of the Sky cameras on Monday night.
Sheffield Wednesday have won all three of their league games at Hillsborough, as well as eliminating Rochdale from the Carling Cup. On the road though, things have been very different.
League defeats at Bournemouth and Bury, a reverse at Blackburn in the Carling Cup plus a penalty shoot-out defeat in the JPT at Bradford, makes for dismal reading for Owls fans.
Former Addicks, Nicky Weaver and cult hero Jose Semedo, will be in the Wednesday line-up. David Prutton will add class to the midfield while Matt Taylor and Michael Morrison will have to keep an eye on the muscular Gary Madine.
Bradley Wright-Phillips is reported to be Charlton’s main doubt though Paul Benson’s hand injury and Gary Doherty’s strain may continue to sideline them.
Benson’s position is intriguing, having accepted, then withdrawn acceptance of Notts County’s bid, Powell said how pleased he was that the striker was staying. Then bids from Bournemouth, Bradford, Luton and Rotherham were accepted but no deal was concluded. Again, Powell said how pleased he was Benson was staying.
Benson does not want to go, Powell says he does not want him to go, so let’s hope the matter is now resolved. Benson could have a good season and is a more than able deputy for Wright-Phillips.
Powell will hope Wright-Phillips is fit to return but if not, and if Benson is also unavailable, he will have to decide between Jason Euell and Scott Wagstaff as Paul Hayes’ partner.
The Addicks could start with this team:
Hamer; Solly, Taylor, Morrison, Wiggins; Green, Stephens, Hollands, Jackson; Wagstaff, Hayes.
Subs: Sullivan, Cort, Hughes, Pritchard, Euell.
The referee will be Darren Deadman from Cambridgeshire.
Semedo is sure of a warm welcome back to his old stomping ground but the Valley fans will want to see him return north empty handed. Charlton have enough creativity in their ranks to elongate the Owls’ poor form away from home.