Charlton’s Under-23 match with Bolton, will now be staged at The Valley on Monday. The Addicks will give Jorge Teixeira his first outing of the season in the game.
Before that, the first team will host AFC Wimbledon on Saturday. It will be the first competitive game between the two sides, though they have clashed in a couple of pre-season friendlies at Kingsmeadow.
The last occasion was in July 2013, when striker, Adamo Coulibaly, played as a trialist for Chris Powell’s team.
Russell Slade is getting players back now, and will have a few decisons to make before naming his team.
Declan Rudd will continue in goal, and Chris Solly and Morgan Fox will be the full-backs. Patick Bauer is pushing for a starting berth, and Slade will not want to overplay Ezri Konsa.
Jason Pearce took a kick to his head at Fleetwood, and has been protected in training this week. The manager will be anxious to get Pearce on the pitch if at all possible, but the medical staff may urge caution.
The three substitutes at Highbury – Lee Novak, Kevin Foley and Jordan Botaka – all played a part in the second goal, and along with fit again Johnnie Jackson, will be vying for a staring place.
Nicky Ajose has struggled so far, and has drawn seven blanks in his eight outings this season. Lee Novak notched the late equaliser at Fleetwood, and may be preferred for this game.
Charlton could look like this:
Rudd; Solly, Konsa, Pearce, Fox; Holmes, Crotfs, Ulvestad, Lookman; Magennis, Novak.
Subs: Phillips, Bauer, Lennon, Foley, Jackson, Botaka, Ajose.
The referee will be Oliver Langton from the West Midlands.
Slade will be looking for his team to start on the front foot. Ideally, he would like his team to keep a clean sheet and not have to chase the game.
The Valley needs to be a fortress, if Charlton are to mount a serious promotion challenge. Wimbledon will be backed by over a thousand travelling fans, but the Addicks will expect to win this one.
TAGS: Charlton Athletic