Charlton Athletic’s players have made a special pact with manager Dean Holden

Dean Holden has talked about a “pact” that he has made with his Charlton Athletic squad.

The likes of Conor McGrandles, Charlie Kirk, Sam Lavelle and Terell Thomas all did not make the bench for Saturday’s 2-0 win over Barnsley.

But Addicks boss Holden was quick to say that nothing should be read into any absences.

“There’s 18 players that can be used in any matchday squad,” he said. “There are eight players today who have not even been in or around it – six were at the training ground this morning, training.

“It’s not an easy position to be in, I was there a lot myself.

“One of the things I said on day one – we sort of got a bit of a pact together I suppose, with the players and the staff – was that if you’re not in the team then how are you going to react? If I bring you off and you think you should stay on the pitch? Whatever the situation is. We made an agreement that the selflessness would take over at that point.

“Of course I want players disappointed. I want players absolutely fuming at me if they are not playing, because it shows they want to help and they want to play. But, at the same time, it is about taking your own situation out of it and supporting your team-mates.

“I have to say we have seen that since I’ve been at the club. No issues at all with any of the players who are not involved – and it could all change again next week. I used to be picking the team or bench at Bristol City and one of my old assistants, Keith Downing, would say: ‘Something will turn up, son’. Week by week and day by day that is proven. We lost Sess [Steven Sessegnon] in the warm-up and then lost Todd [Kane]. He [Downing] is absolutely spot on – don’t get too far ahead of yourself and deal with the situation in front of you.”

PICTURE: PAUL EDWARDS