Fresh injury setback for Charlton Athletic striker

Chuks Aneke is once again facing a disrupted pre-season with the Charlton Athletic striker sidelined by a calf issue.

The 30-year-old forward made 18 appearances in all competitions for the Addicks last season. But the former Arsenal youngster started just once in his 13 League One outings.

Aneke also sustained a calf injury a year ago in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Welling United. He did not feature at first-team level until October and a major hamstring strain also wrote off the end of the campaign.

Holden, speaking after the 4-0 friendly win at Welling on Saturday, told BBC Radio London: “Chuks got himself in tip-top nick right at the end of the season and then doing the fitness work in the off season he just felt something in his calf.

“There is no timescale yet. He is the only absentee, from last season.”

Centre-back Michael Hector also did not feature at Park View Road with Lloyd Jones, signed at the end of last week after leaving Cambridge United, also not involved.

Holden said: “Michael Hector is just a little bit behind the rest of the group in terms of his fitness at the moment. It wasn’t the right thing to include him in today’s game and Lloyd Jones the same.

“Lloyd had a minor procedure at the end of the season. He put his body on the line to keep Cambridge in the division, as you’d expect from your captain. Yet again he is a little bit behind the rest of the group. We’ll nurse them and manage them correctly.”

Charlton are also waiting to discover the full extent of Miles Leaburn’s ankle injury.

The teenage striker came off in the first half after a terrible challenge by Welling defender Taofiq Olomowewe.

“At the end of week one it is pleasing to get out and into a proper game, with a bit of intensity about it,” said Holden. “The only downside was Miles picked up something in the first half, we’ll just see how he is.

“We’ll wait and see (how bad it is). I don’t get too concerned at this point. He went past the last defender and he’s gone to ground, caught Miles with a bit of a scissor (tackle). He’s just rolled his ankle a little bit.”