Johnnie Jackson on Covid-19 cases disrupting his match plans for Charlton’s fixture at AFC Wimbledon
Johnnie Jackson has confirmed that Charlton Athletic have a number of positive Covid-19 infections.
The Addicks are due to be in action at AFC Wimbledon on Boxing Day.
Charlton did play last weekend – losing 1-0 at Plymouth – but had Conor Washington, Akin Famewo and Josh Davison missing with the virus.
“It’s a really delicate situation,” Addicks boss Jackson told the South London Press. “We have got a number of cases amongst players and staff.
“We’re monitoring that and managing that, in terms of how we try and keep everyone healthy but, at the same time, keep them training and ticking over.
“It is a real challenge because we have been hit quite hard with it. We’re doing everything we can to not lose games of football. We’re doing the right thing and the best practise as a club but the whole situation in football and society is difficult. It seems to be rife – especially in the London area.
“You don’t know what the next day is going to bring. We’re watching it and monitoring it day by day. It can spread quite quickly and things can change all the time.
“I’m juggling what I’ve got available and who is not going to be available – what the best team is I can put out there. But then I can get the call and be told I’ve lost another one. Then you have to shuffle the pack again.
“If you look at the Plymouth match we lost three players the day before. I had to change everything I’d done and worked on in training. That’s not ideal.
“It is going to be the case again. I could write down my team now and will that be the team on Sunday? Highly unlikely. You have to be ready to have a few contingencies but hope for the best.”
In all fairness to everyone, the games should be cancelled over the Christmas and
new year period. It is unfair for any club not to be able to put out a competitive team due to Covid. If it is injuries that decimate your team, then fair enough, that is just bad luck. The next few games are very important for many reasons to many clubs. A lot could be lost or gained during this part of the football season. Yes, there will be a backlog that will need to be fulfilled, but it would at least be on a more level playing field – if you pardon the pun.