Charlton Athletic caretaker boss Johnnie Jackson: It’s a tough call who to leave out of the matchday 18

Johnnie Jackson has explained Charlie Kirk’s absence from Charlton Athletic’s squad for their 2-0 win over Cambridge United on Saturday.

The winger has struggled for game time since his switch from Crewe in early August.

Kirk, 23, has started just twice since the start of October and his last league appearance came as a 78th-minute substitute in the 2-2 draw at Morecambe. He has been an unused sub in five of the last 10 League One matches and not made the matchday squad for four of those.

Kirk did play the 90 minutes against Havant & Waterlooville in the FA Cup but was not called into the action for the victory over Gateshead when Charlton booked their place in the third round of the competition.

Caretaker manager Jackson said: “We’ve flipped between him and Albie [Morgan] the week before [as a sub]. It was a question of who we involved and who we didn’t involve. I went with Kirky the week before and decided to go with Albie this week.

“Albie had trained well. I have to make those decisions and they are tough. I don’t like leaving a player out and no-one deserves to miss out – but I can only pick 18.

“I have to pick a team and a bench which I think is balanced for various scenarios. That’s just the way I decided to go for it.”

PICTURE: PAUL EDWARDS