Charlton chief Nathan Jones: Phenomenal Tyreece Campbell has quality to play in the Premier League

Nathan Jones is backing Tyreece Campbell to play in the Premier League – adding that the South London footballer would have been easily good enough to make the Southampton squad he managed in the top flight.

The 21-year-old, born in Southwark, has scored eight times this season – double the tally he managed in the previous campaign – and added to his double in Saturday’s 4-0 win over Huddersfield with the winner in Tuesday’s 2-1 success at Mansfield Town.

Jones has moved Campbell from a wide role to a central attacking one with the academy product partnering Matty Godden.

Asked about Campbell’s goal return, the Charlton boss told the South London Press: “Ironically he should have more. He should have more end product. He is just a fabulous, fabulous footballer. Everything he does, day in and day out, he is improving.

“He is still a young player who needs continuous education. He is getting that here and he is responding. He is now stronger, he is now fitter and more durable. Technically he is improving. His knowledge of where he is playing and how to effect opponents is getting better.

“Bearing in mind he was a left-footed right-winger (when Jones came in). ‘You can only play him there….you can only do this with him’ – no you can’t. The kid is phenomenal. And he is only going to get better. He is absolutely nowhere near his ceiling yet – which is a wonderful but very, very frightening prospect.”

Jones said after the midweek win that Campbell, who came off with cramp against the Stags, is as good as the Premier League players he worked with.

“Absolutely (he can play in the English top flight),” said the Welshman today. “He would have got into my Southampton squad – comfortably.

“It is a top end finish (against Mansfield) but it is what we see every day. And what we want him to do is keep adding that to games – because we see it every day in training.

“We swapped him over because the boy Bowery did very well against him – he was aggressive – so we felt he needed something different. We switched sides. Chuks (Aneke) did magnificently and he (Campbell) can be quite devastating – he showed that with the winning goal.”

PICTURE: PAUL EDWARDS