New head coach, Karel Fraeye, told fans at the end of the 2013/14 season, that he would return as Charlton’s head coach within two years.

He was close to returning as Guy Luzon’s assistant when the Israeli took over from Bob Peeters last January. In the end, the club decided that Fraeye’s services were not required at that time.

Though officially he is the interim head coach, reasonable results will see Fraeye given the job on a permanent basis.

He has brought Wim De Corte in to assist him, and Under-21 coach, Jason Euell, was promoted to first team coach on Thursday. Again, Euell’s role is billed as interim, but it is likely to be made permanent.

Fraeye’s appointment may have underwhelmed many of the club’s supporters, but Jose Riga’s former assistant was highly regarded by the players in his first spell at The Valley.

Getting results will be not be easy, given the Addicks’ next few games, and Fraeye could hardly have a tougher start than Saturday’s trip to Middlesbrough.

A coach who likes his charges to play with a smile on their face, he will undoubtedly use Friday’s train trip to Teesside as a bonding session.

Fraeye will probably seek the advice of Euell and skipper, Johnnie Jackson, before naming his team.

Simon Makienok was limping at the final whistle last week, but is expected to be fit enough to be involved in this game.

Fraeye is likely to have Igor Vetokele available in the near future, but this game may come a little too soon for him.

Alou Diarra will return after serving his one match ban for accumulating five yellow cards.

Fraeye will not have too many decisions to make regarding his starting line-up.

In contrast to Charlton’s dismal run of two draws and eight defeats in their last ten games, Boro are on the crest of a wave.

They are at the top end of the table and will be buoyed after eliminating Manchester United from the Capital One Cup at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening.

Fraeye is under no illusions about the size of the task and had this to say on Thursday:

“We’ve got three difficult games coming up, so it’s very important that we grab up some points before the international break.

“It’s obvious, we need some positives, so let’s all hope we can get a win as fast as possible, because it’s been a while.

“We will work very hard on and off the pitch to become the side we want to be.”

Fraeye’s team may look something like this:

Henderson; Solly, Diarra, Bauer, Fox; Gudmundsson, Cousins, Jackson, Moussa; Makienok, Watt.

Subs: Pope, Sarr, Bergdich, Ba, McAleny, Ahearne-Grant, Ghoochannejhad.

The referee will be Andy Madley from West Yorkshire.

The Addicks would gladly settle for taking a point, but it will be a tall order.