Charlton Athletic boss on adding ‘size and presence’ with deal for ex-Palace striker and update on Lloyd Jones availability

Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones has talked about Connor Wickham adding a physical presence up top.

The former Crystal Palace striker has signed a short-term deal with the Addicks and made his debut as a late substitute in Saturday’s 3-2 win over Carlisle.

Wickham produced a flick on which eventually led to Alfie May profiting from Sam Lavelle’s poor attempted backpass to score the clincher at The Valley.

Targetmen Chuks Aneke and Miles Leaburn are both injury absences for the Addicks with the latter not expected to return until the very back end of the campaign as a best case scenario.

“He (Wickham) contributed when he came on and he gives us something different – we know we have got a bit more size and presence up there, with the running, pace and movement that the others bring,” said Jones.

“We need a balance. We’re still waiting for Chuks to be fully fit and when we have that we have got real potency in the front areas.

“With Leaburn and Aneke not being fit it limits the size we have got and the vertical presence, if you like. We have so many other things that having that just adds to us – that is what we’re really pleased with.”

Lloyd Jones was not in the matchday squad to face the Cumbrians.

“We pulled Lloyd out because we had Hec (Michael Hector) coming back and we also played with three centre-halves, as well as having (Nathan) Asiimwe who can fill in,” said Jones.

“Lloyd just had a little niggle that we got sorted out. He needed an injection which freed him up so he could train fully this week.”

Midweek results mean that the teams below Charlton in the table can no longer catch them just by winning their fixtures in hand.

But Jones did not pay much attention to those matches earlier this week, with his focus on Saturday’s trip to Fleetwood Town.

“Everything is about us. If we do what we do then we don’t want to be reliant on anyone else,” he said.

“It is nice that other people are not winning games below us but we have to start looking at doing different things.

“I’ve always been a big believer that you control your own destiny – everything is God’s will – and you are in control of doing what you can for your own self. Then everything else is secondary.

“The only game I watched in midweek was the Fleetwood v Bristol Rovers game because that was relevant to us. Apart from that it is no concern what others do.”

MAIN PICTURE: KYLE ANDREWS