Did Johnnie Jackson want to sign another striker in last transfer window? Charlton boss has his say

Johnnie Jackson says he was happy with his offensive options at the end of the January transfer window – adding that he did not expect to lose so many players in those positions.

Top-scorer Jayden Stockley has been out since early December with a back problem with Conor Washington and Chuks Aneke also absent in recent weeks.

Corey Blackett-Taylor (hamstring) is sidelined with while Scott Fraser, signed from Ipswich shortly before the deal deadline, has been absent with Covid.

Mason Burstow, 18, came off in last night’s 2-0 home reverse to MK with a hamstring problem which is set to rule him out for at least Saturday’s trip to Sheffield Wednesday.

Asked by the South London Press whether he had been happy with the depth of his frontline options after the cut-off for transfers, Jackson replied: “It’s difficult to legislate for your three senior strikers being injured – all at the same time.

“Then you bring a lad in – Scottie Fraser – in that top end of the pitch, creative department, and he gets Covid and hasn’t started a game yet.

“[Corey] Blackett-Taylor was just finding form – really, really impressive at Pompey and gets injured five minutes into the next game. In hindsight now I wish I had another forward to choose from, don’t I? But you can’t stockpile.

“If you’re going in to battle with Stockley, Washington, Aneke, Burstow and then Leko and Blackett-Taylor are your wingers then you have got resources at the top end of the pitch. If you took Parrott, Twine, Eisa and Wickham out of their team – which is the equivalent – it’s going to cause them a problem, isn’t it?”

It is hoped that Stockley can join back in with the main group at the end of this week.

“I don’t know if he’ll be available for the weekend,” said Jackson. “But if he is, he’ll be the only one. Aneke is a bit longer term, Washington is a bit closer. But not any time soon.”

PICTURE: PAUL EDWARDS