‘It’s like a new signing!’ – Miles Leaburn back in full training for Charlton Athletic

Miles Leaburn is back in full training for Charlton Athletic with manager Nathan Jones thrilled at the prospect of unleashing him back on League One defences.

The 20-year-old underwent surgery for a serious hamstring injury in December with the Addicks making sure his return to first-team football was managed in meticulous fashion.

That included Leaburn spending six weeks at St George’s Park in the summer with Game Changer Performance, who are performance and rehabilitation specialists.

The big striker has 15 goals in 48 League One matches – along with three assists.

Leaburn, on Chelsea’s books before joining the Addicks, had attracted Premier League interest after scoring 13 times in his first campaign at senior level in the 2022-23 season.

His injury last time around restricted him to just 18 appearances in all competitions, netting seven times.

Jones told the South London Press: “He is back in full training and looking very, very good. Really pleased. We obviously can’t rush him. It’s difficult to say he’s ahead of schedule because we always had the worst-case scenario and the best-case scenario – he’s nowhere near the worst case.

“He is looking something very, very different and we’re delighted to have him back.

“It’s a cliche but it is like a new signing for me because I have seen him play – I just haven’t see him play for me.

“He is categorically for me like a new signing – and a wonderful new signing. Because if I could profile a centre-forward he literally ticks all boxes in terms of what we need.

“We have got a really good variation in that front position. We have three nines and three runners or second strikers. We have real good balance so at any point we can play how we want to play because we have size, pace, athleticism, power and goals.

“I’m not sure there are many clubs with the variation we have got.”

PICTURE: KYLE ANDREWS