Charlton wiill face their sternest test to date when they travel to the West Midlands to face Walsall on Saturday.
The Saddlers had a terrific campaign and only lost out on an automatic promotion spot to Burton on the final day of last season.
They ran into a rapidly improving Barnsley side in the play-off semis, and we’re beaten 6-1 on aggregate.
Walsall legend, Dean Smith, left to take the reins at Brentford during the season, with his long time assistant, Jon Whitney, replacing him at the Bescot.
Whitney was given a three-year contract in June. The Saddlers lost a number of influential players in the summer, notably Welsh international striker Tom Bradshaw, who signed a three-year deal at Barnsley.
Whitney’s side may find things tougher this time around.
Russell Slade has injury concerns over Ricky Holmes, who has a swollen ankle, and skipper, Johnnie Jackson, who felt a tight hamstring on Tuesday.
Four games in the first ten days of the season was always going to take its toll on players, and Holmes has been singled out for some robust challenges by the opposition.
Josh Magennis and Ademola Lookman played through the summer, so Slade will have to manage his resources carefully. The manager will be pleased of the week’s break until Bolton come to The Valley next Saturday.
Holmes has made an outstanding start to the season, and Slade would ideally want him to play some part though.
Ezri Konsa has played three games in a week, which is a tough ask for the youngster, so plenty for the manager to ponder before naming his team.
Slade’s side may look something like this:
Rudd; Solly, Konsa, Pearce, Fox; Holmes, Foley, Crofts, Botaka; Magennis, Ajose.
Subs: Phillips, Bauer, Johnson, Holmes-Dennis, Muldoon, Lookman, Novak.
The referee will be Chris Sarginson from Staffordshire.
The Addicks played well on Tuesday and Slade will be keen to build on that momentum.
TAGS: Charlton Athletic