Exclusive: Andre Green on his Aston Villa future, scoring against old loan club Preston North End and Charlton’s attempts to sign him last summer

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Andre Green could be a free agent in July – and the attacker admits his urgency for game time was a key reason behind joining Charlton Athletic.

The 21-year-old signed on loan for the South London club earlier this month.

Green had made a temporary move to Preston North End on August 1 but made just four Championship appearances before the end of 2019.

“It’s a crucial time for me,” he told the South London Press. “My contract is coming to an end in the summer. There is an option in there but that is down to what Villa want to do.

“It’s why I need to push and push, get as many games as possible between now and the end of the season.

“It was the main reason why I had to leave Preston. I was getting frustrated – I didn’t feel like I was really getting the chance. It was probably the toughest time of my career.

“The contract is in the back of my mind. It’s a good thing and a bad thing. It’s pushing me  to work hard and give my all every day.

“I’ve not experienced this situation before. All I can do is play my own game.

“I know I’ll get an opportunity here. So it is part down to me but a lot of other factors go into it [whether Villa choose to keep him].

“I played in the run up to Villa getting promoted [out of the Championship last season] and I played at Wembley. It was a great experience.

“I’m a Villa fan and I’ve come through the academy. I’ve been there going on 12 years. It would be tough not to have a future there.

“They are a Premier League club now. I know I can play in the Premier League but I need to play consistently first.

“Everyone knows my love for Villa. They will always be my club.”

While Green looks fondly on his parent club, the Solihull-born player can’t say the same for his stint at Deepdale.

He scored his first goal for Charlton against North End. And he admits there was extra motivation ahead of the trip to Lancashire, where he quickly dropped out of contention under Alex Neil.

“I’m only human and I had all of my family saying “score or just do anything in this game’ because they knew how frustrating it had been,” said Green. “The motivation for that one was crazy.

“I got a bit of stick for my celebration but I have apologised to the fans because I have respect for everyone at the club. But that one felt good.

“I think the system at Preston didn’t fit with what I was brought in to do. For whatever reason I don’t feel the manager saw what I could properly do and chose not to play me.”

Charlton’s interest in Green stretches back to the summer.

He met Addicks manager Lee Bowyer and goalkeeping coach Andy Marshall – all three basking in the Dubai sun as they holidayed after respective play-off final victories.

“I think it was between Preston and Charlton who I would go to,” explained the Villa man. “It was down to the club and they sent me to Preston.

“Funnily enough I was with the gaffer – I bumped into him and Marshy in Dubai.

“We had a good chat out there. I got to know a bit about the club.

“The reputation of the club progressing players was a definite attraction. You only need to look at players who were at Charlton and where they are now – Joe Gomez and Ademola Lookman. So many people have done well here.

“Lee Bowyer told me ‘you’ll enjoy it here and we’ll make you a better player’. I can already feel the positive benefit of being at the club and getting my football – I can build on it.”

Green’s aims are chaining together matches and contributing in the final third. Exactly what Charlton need him to do to climb away from relegation danger.

“The fact I came in so early in the window helped me settle in,” said the former England U20 international.

“We’ve got a few injuries and I was trying to lift the place.

“We’re kind of down there scrapping but once we have all the players back from injury we will get better and better – you could see that against Fulham where we held our own and stuck together.

“I already feel a massive part of this club and want this club to be safe and staying in the Championship.

“We have got the players here – especially with some coming back to fitness – who are more than capable of doing that.

“I want more goals and more assists to make up for the lost time of that first six months of the season.

“I want to prove my worth, have a good end to this season and see where it takes me in the future.”

Tickets for Charlton’s game against Barnsley on Saturday, February 1 cost £20 for adults and £10 for U18s. Visit booking.cafc.co.uk to get your ticket.