Charlton Athletic goalkeeper facing battle to be fit before 2023

Charlton Athletic boss Ben Garner has confirmed that Joe Wollacott has had surgery on a fractured finger.

Garner also confirmed that it is “touch and go” whether the goalkeeper will be available before the end of 2022.

The 26-year-old suffered the injury in the pre-match warm-up before Saturday’s League One match at Burton Albion.

Craig MacGillivray was promoted from the bench to replace Wallacot in the starting line-up last weekend at the Pirelli Stadium, with the Addicks securing a 3-3 draw following a double from Charlie Kirk and an equaliser from Jesurun-Rak Sakyi.

Wollacott was not named in Ghana’s 26-man squad for the 2022 Qatar World Cup after picking up the injury.

“It’s certainly touch and go,” said the Charlton boss when asked whether Wallacot would be back before the end of 2022.

“He fractured a finger. It was operated on yesterday, so now we’re just letting that heal and then it’s the rehab process from there.

“We would have had him back sooner, without any shadow of a doubt, from the World Cup rather than the injury.

“I was so disappointed for him over the weekend and for a good couple of days.

“I care for these players, and we want the best for them. Having seen Jojo’s progression over the last 16 months or so, it’s been incredible. The talent was there, he just needed the opportunity.

“He’s taken those opportunities with both hands. He had a fantastic season in League Two, became Ghana’s number one, had a really strong start to life in League One with us, and then he was about to go to the World Cup – it’s a devastating blow for him.

“But, what I will say, knowing him, is that he has a fantastic mentality, and he will come back stronger and better, and he will put the disappointment behind him and use it as fuel for the rest of his career.

“He’s still due to go out and join Ghana and have that experience. He’s been a key part of them getting there, so he fully deserves to be out there with the squad and experience the highs and lows of a World Cup. 

“But he will be [out longer with the injury] than he would have been if he was going, playing, and then coming back.”