Corey Blackett-Taylor on signing short-term deal at Charlton, exit from Tranmere and achieving professional debut dream at Aston Villa

Corey Blackett-Taylor is confident he can land a longer stay at Charlton Athletic – and insists that being on a short-term contract doesn’t change his objectives.

The 23-year-old Brummie signed for the Addicks last week on a deal until January.

Blackett-Taylor was a free agent after leaving Tranmere this summer and had previously spent time training with Wigan Athletic.

“Because I was eager to get something started and the club was eager to get something sorted, it just turned out to be until January,” the former Aston Villa winger told the South London Press. “Regardless of how long I got offered, the goal is the same for me.

“I still knew I had to come in and make an impact, even if I signed a year or two-year contract.

“The immediate goal is to get my head down and start performing. What I need to do for the team is the same.

“If everything goes well in the next couple of months, which is what I hope and expect, then I know what will come by January.

“It’s a good feeling either way. I know where my immediate future is. I want to get playing and performing.”

Taylor-Blackett has already coped with the pressure of being on trial with the South London club.

The fact he had also done plenty of fitness work with Wigan had its benefits.

“I did a core pre-season there – a lot of running – and I played a few games,” said Blackett-Taylor. “It definitely helped. It wasn’t like I was coming in and hadn’t done anything. I was kind of already fit.

“I came in and started to get my sharpness back. Now I’m getting my football sharpness back.

“I’ve always backed myself and my ability. I knew I would be able to cope with the pressure and the demands of what I need to do. I’m just glad I was able to do well enough to earn a contract.

“Charlton are probably one of the biggest clubs in this league. In my eyes they are a Championship club. This season our main goal is to be in and around it, to get the club back to where it belongs.

“It’s definitely a step up. I’m relishing that opportunity and challenge.”

Blackett-Taylor won four caps for England U17s at the Nordic Tournament – former Addicks loanee Jay Dasilva was a team-mate.

He scored eight goals in 62 matches at Tranmere Rovers, joining them on a permanent basis in 2019 when they were newly-promoted to League One.

The Covid-19 pandemic saw that first campaign decided by points per game – a decision that relegated the Birkenhead club.

“A lot of things happened towards the end of last season – not getting promoted [from League Two], losing out in the play-offs, and a change of manager,” explained Blackett-Taylor. “So there were a lot of things to think about.

“I enjoyed my two years at Tranmere and I got comfortable where I was. But when you kind of have the possibility to move on to a higher division, and play for a big club like Charlton, it’s something you’ve got to think about.”

His brother Daryl, 36, was also on the books of Aston Villa before moving to Walsall in 2004.

Blackett-Taylor made his Villa debut as an 87th-minute substitute in a 1-0 loss to Huddersfield in the Championship in March 2017. One more senior appearance was to follow, when he came on in the closing stages of a 2-0 EFL Cup loss to Middlesbrough the following season.

Blackett-Taylor came through the same Villa age group as Keinan Davis, Andre Green – another to have a temporary spell in SE7 – and Callum O’Hare, now impressing at Coventry City.

“My dad spoke to someone he still knew at Villa from when my brother was there and I got signed after a few days,” said Blackett-Taylor, who believes he was younger than nine, the age widely reported that he got picked up by the Midlands giants.

“It was definitely a proud moment [to make his debut]. Having been there from such a young age I’d seen players come and go.

“It was definitely an achievement at the time, because I was only 19. Being from the area as well, it made it feel even more of a thing for me.

“But I’m still only 23. I want to keep pushing for things. I’m glad I’m here now. I want to see how far we can go as a team and how far I can go as a player. I had great development at Villa and learned a lot there. But I’ve learned the most in the last two years – playing real football.

“I don’t look back and think I made the wrong decision [to leave Villa] because my game has developed a lot, and it’s still developing.”

Blackett-Taylor had a spell last season playing in a front two.

“I had a free role to roam everywhere,” he said. “I enjoyed it. I learned a new way to play, with my back to goal. I hadn’t done it that much.

“I know a lot of fans might not have seen me play or know what I’m about. As soon as I go on the pitch I try to make an impact and do something positive.

“I am a positive player. They should expect positive play, and direct play.”

PICTURES: KYLE ANDREWS AND PAUL EDWARDS