Nigel Adkins: Diallang Jaiyesimi’s absence from Charlton squad is “nothing personal”
BY LOUIS MENDEZ
Charlton boss Nigel Adkins says that Diallang Jaiyesimi’s current absence from the squad is nothing personal.
Winger Jaiyesimi was tipped as a man to watch this season and started each of the Addicks’ opening six league games – bagging the opening goal during their win of the season, a 2-0 triumph over Crewe.
But the former Swindon man, who arrived during the January transfer window at the start of this year, hasn’t even been on the bench for the South Londoners’ last three outings.
“I really like DJ,” explained Adkins after watching his side draw 2-2 with Portsmouth on Saturday afternoon.
“We’ve got a size of squad, there’s only 11 outfield players I can pick and only seven impact players, substitutes I can pick for any one game. I’ve probably got seven or eight players who aren’t even on the bench who are training. The young players who made up the squad through pre-season are back training with the u23s now.
“We’ve assembled a large group but we’ve got to get them back to a level. It’s a challenge where you’ve got to get everyone to a level and a challenge where you’ve got to make difficult decisions because the players we’ve got, I really like them all. It’ll never be personal. I’ve got to make a decision at any given time that’s going to be right to see if we can get a performance and a victory for the here and now but also mindful for the next game. Over a period of time, hopefully we’ve got everyone in a good position.”
Fellow wideman Corey Blackett-Taylor has impressed during the last three outings, grabbing two assists.
Adkins added: “It just shows that we’ve got a strong group of players who’ve come in. You look at Corey Blackett-Taylor the other night [at Gillingham], against Wycombe and for the ten minutes here. I’m fortunate that I get to see them every single day in training so I know what they’re doing on a consistent basis. Ultimately, I’ve got to make a decision on who is in the starting 11 and who is the impact to come off the bench and maybe change it.
“Thinking, for example a player is only going to play for 60 minutes, he might be only able to play for 45 minutes. I’ll be going into games knowing I’ve already made three substitutions before we’ve kicked off. That’s not an ideal situation. So, we’ve got to try and manage our way through this, which I think we are doing.
“I really like DJ, I’ve said it before. Nothing whatsoever [has happened between Adkins and Jaiyesimi]. You look at the wide players we’ve got, we’ve got Jaiyesimi, Kirk, Blackett-Taylor, Leko, and Charles Clayden – who I think is exceptional – he’s back with u23s at the moment. We’ve got an amass of talent. There’s only so many that can play.
“Ultimately, I’ve got to make a decision and the beauty of football is that we’ve all got an opinion. Ultimately, I’ve got to make a decision and there’s a lot of processes that go into that.”
PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS
Everyone at the South London Press thanks you for your continued support.
Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has encouraged everyone in the country who can afford to do so to buy a newspaper, and told the Downing Street press briefing:
“A FREE COUNTRY NEEDS A FREE PRESS, AND THE NEWSPAPERS OF OUR COUNTRY ARE UNDER SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PRESSURE”
If you can afford to do so, we would be so grateful if you can make a donation which will allow us to continue to bring stories to you, both in print and online. Or please make cheques payable to “MSI Media Limited” and send by post to South London Press, Unit 112, 160 Bromley Road, Catford, London SE6 2NZ
Adkins ought to be holding a massive serious grudge on DJ after his shameful last few “performances”