Charlton assistant Johnnie Jackson provides update on Nigel Adkins after Addicks boss misses Dartford friendly with coronavirus

BY LOUIS MENDEZ

Assistant manager Johnnie Jackson has reassured fans that Charlton boss Nigel Adkins is feeling well after he missed the 2-1 friendly victory over Dartford following a positive coronavirus test.

The club announced that Adkins, who has been double-vaccinated, along with several players and members of staff are self-isolating after the Addicks boss returned a positive diagnosis for Covid-19.

Jackson took charge of the side for the victory at Princes Park, with Adkins watching on at home.

“The gaffer is fine,” said Jackson.

“I spoke to him regularly over the last few days and then spoke to him this morning before the game. He was in real good spirits. He’s gutted that he can’t be here. Obviously, we wish him a speedy recovery but he’s fine. He’d have been watching the game. We’ll speak again now after the game and hopefully we’ll have him back as soon as possible.

“He’s not been in the training ground for a few days now. I don’t know what the rules are, the exact specifics of when he comes back but I’d say it’ll be a matter of days now and hopefully back-end of the week we’ll have him back at the training ground.

Took the opportunity to not feel so isolated and watched today’s pre season game ⁦@CAFCofficial⁩ v ⁦@dartfordfc⁩ with many of our fans on Charlton TV. Well done to ⁦@johnnie_jackson⁩ the staff & the team. Thanks for the get well messages. Stay safe. pic.twitter.com/UQqYzQKUcP

— Nigel Adkins (@TheNigelAdkins) July 17, 2021

“It’s a difficult situation for everyone. I’m sure this is happening at a lot of clubs at the minute. It seems to be quite prevalent at the moment. We’re just trying to do everything right as a football club. Best practice at the training ground.

“You’d have seen today that we’ve had to adjust it a little bit by not using the changing rooms, keeping everything outside. Just making sure that we’re doing everything we can to minimise the risk and follow the protocols set by the government and the EFL when you do have close contacts and cases.”

Second-half goals from Diallang Jaiyesimi and Josh Davison saw the South Londoners overcome a spirited Dartford side at a scorching Princes Park.

Winger Jaiyesimi, who bagged his second goal in as many games after also notching at Welling United in midweek, had looked to be suffering with a knock soon after his strike but Jackson said there were no major concerns for the former Swindon Town man.

Jackson explained: “I think it’s just a bit of a coming together on the goal and a knock on the ankle but I said to him: ‘Are you ok?’. He just said: ‘Give me a couple of minutes to run it off,’ which he did.

“We managed to bring him off with everyone else [when the Addicks made wholesale changes on the hour-mark]. I think he was fine. He’s been a real threat in pre-season. He scored another good goal today to go with his one at Welling. He’s looking bright.

“It was a good runout. A good conditional session for us, especially in this heat. That made it especially tough. We got a good 60 minutes into a lot of our senior lads there and then the younger crop have come on and got a good 30 minutes under their belt and then a bit extra after the game there. It’s just about building minutes up at the moment, building into what is going to be three real good friendly tests for us now going into the season.”

PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS/PAUL EDWARDS