This weekend’s matches will have given managers all over the country problems in their preparations. Will they succeed in bringing their targets in, will other clubs swoop for their stars, will they have time to replace any outgoing players?
Chris Powell will be hoping to hold on to Villa target, Dale Stephens, and land Millwall’s Dany N’Guessan. Players have to be signed by midday on Friday to be available for Saturday’s matches. If Stephens does go to Villa, Powell could look to bring in Southampton’s Dean Hammond as a replacement.
Forest have had a similar start to Charlton, winning their opening game at the City Ground against Bristol City before getting creditable draws at Huddersfield and Bolton. New owners have injected money into the club and former Arsenal midfielder, Henri Lansbury, was signed in the week. Currently injured, Lansbury will not feature against the Addicks.
Former Valley favourite, Andy Reid, is back at the City Ground and along with Lewis McGugan, will pose a big threat from midfield. Strikers Simon Cox and Dexter Blackstock will ensure Michael Morrison and Leon Cort have a busy afternoon.
Stephens’ departure aside, Powell is likely to stick to the side that has started all three league games. Powell said at his Thursday press conference that Ricardo Fuller might not be quite fit enough to be involved. Powell may still be tempted to include the Jamaican in case he has to chase the game late on.
Matt Taylor’s foot injury will keep him out for around a month so Dorian Dervite will take his on the bench. One decision Powell will have to make is whether to put new signing, David Button, on the bench ahead of John Sullivan. It is still possible that Sullivan could leave The Valley on a loan deal.
Charlton could look like this:
Hamer; Solly, Cort, Morrison, Wiggins; Pritchard, Stephens, Hollands, Jackson; Kermorgant, Wright-Phillips.
Subs: Button, Wilson, Dervite, Green, Kerkar, Cook, Fuller.
The referee will be Graham Salisbury of Lancashire.
It has been a difficult week for Powell and he would be delighted to come away from Nottingham with a point.