‘A risk’ – Charlton boss Appleton explains why free transfer striker signings have been avoided

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Michael Appleton reckons it would have been too much of a gamble for Charlton Athletic to delve into the free agent market to solve their striker shortage.

The Addicks lost Chuks Aneke to a hamstring injury in October that is expected to keep the powerful frontman out until the start of 2024.

But head coach Appleton has explained why the League One club did not opt to move for any players who were free agents.

The South London Press understands Charlton were offered their former player Lyle Taylor, who left Nottingham Forest in the summer.

The Montserrat international signed a short-term deal with Wycombe Wanderers last week.

Taylor, 33, scored 25 goals when Charlton won the League One play-offs in 2019.

He had netted 11 times in the following campaign but refused to play after the Championship campaign resumed behind closed doors after the outbreak of Covid-19.

Taylor cited that he was at risk of injury which could jeopardise his options when his terms expired at the end of June.

The absence of the former AFC Wimbledon forward was keenly felt as the Addicks were relegated on the final day.

“The big issue I’ve got right now at this time of the year with free agents is game time and being fit,” Appleton told the South London Press. “It would be a little bit different if it was a week, two weeks or even three weeks after the window had shut, because you have still got at least three months to get them up to speed and playing regularly or around your team.

“Taking free agents now is a bit of a risk because they haven’t played for so long. They might’ve played in one or two behind-closed-doors games but having the confidence to bring them into the group – and up to speed straight away – would be a little bit of a concern.

“It’s one of those that I never say never, but it’s not something we’d probably look to do now. It might be something we look to do after the January window is shut – players who have been at a club and playing reasonably regularly up to January.

“You have got to be careful. You tend to take players – I’ve done it in the past – thinking you are going to get the player that they were or potentially were the previous season.

“They come in, get injured and then you are back to square one.

“To be fair we have got young players and players that excite me going forward. I know they are not going to be anywhere near the finished article – either now, in six months time or even maybe 12 months – but we have got the likes of Micah Mbick, who came off the bench last week in the FA Cup.

“He has trained with us a few times now and I could quite easily have had him with us on Tuesday night (for the 3-0 EFL Trophy win over Sutton) but the youth team have a FA Cup tie on Thursday (last night).

“ I felt it was important for him to play in that and stay part of that group as well, at times.

“We have got one or two options that we are more than happy with up until we get to that January period.”

MAIN PICTURE: MICHAEL APPLETON