‘I’m happy to make big calls’ – Nigel Adkins on decision to take Jayden Stockley out of Charlton’s starting line up

Nigel Adkins says he is happy to make tough decisions regarding his Charlton line-ups after dropping Jayden Stockley to the bench for last night’s 1-1 draw at Gillingham.

The Addicks manager had hinted that the summer signing from Preston North End targetman could make way in a bid to try and get less of a direct approach.

And Adkins went with Josh Davison up top in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Stockley only coming on in the closing stages.

Asked if it was a big call to take Stockley out of his side, the Charlton boss said: “He’s a massive player for us. Jayden has been immense for us. He’s a key player in what we do. You say it is a big call – I’m happy to make big calls.

“I wanted us to play a little bit and Josh Davison has been doing great. I’ve got a big squad of players now – there’s the challenge. Competition for places is important. And I was really pleased, in particular, with the first-half performance and how we played.”

Adkins made seven changes for the game in Kent with Harry Arter, Diallang Jaiyesimi, Pape Souare, George Dobson and Chris Gunter not even making the bench.

Charlie Kirk and Sean Clare, signed in the last transfer window, were both unused subs.

Asked if players needed to do more to force their way back into his starting plans, Adkins replied: “At the end of the season I was hoping we’d get our team assembled very, very early and continue with the theme from last season – to have a settled side to work through the pre-season period, so that our patterns of play were established.

“Towards the end of the window we’ve brought in a lot of players. We’ve got a hell of a lot of players, and at different levels of fitness coming into it. That’s the challenging part I’ve got to try and navigate us through – because I want to try and have a settled side, if I can, and a settled way of playing. The formation tonight is the way we played last season and the way we started this season. Obviously we didn’t get off to a winning start but there were some positives in there.”

PICTURES: KYLE ANDREWS