In-depth with new Charlton signing Josh Edwards: Nathan Jones has told me to target a Scotland call-up

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Josh Edwards’ ultimate goal is to reach the Premier League but Charlton Athletic’s summer transfer window signing has revealed that manager Nathan Jones reckons he should be aiming for a Scotland call-up.

Gaining selection for the Tartan Army could be tricky playing League One football.

But Jones had plenty of players he worked with at Luton Town that went on to play at a far higher level than when they initially joined.

Edwards was the subject of a bid from Barnsley in the January transfer window which was knocked back by Dunfermline.

But the Pars were powerless to prevent Charlton from opening talks with the 24-year-old left-sided defender after meeting a five-figure release clause which became active this summer.

Edwards was named in the Scottish Championship Team of the Year. He scored four goals with nine assists in 42 appearances.

Edwards says he has held a long-standing desire to test himself in England.

“I’d turn on the TV as a kid and look for the Premier League Years programme,” Edwards told the South London Press. “I had my own team in Scotland, Kilmarnock, and I had a season-ticket there from when I was young.

“But on TV it was always English football. I wanted to play down there and get to the Premier League. That was just what was in my head and it’s not really changed.

“I want to give it a go down south and if it doesn’t work out then it doesn’t work out. I’m here to give it my best go, and hopefully things go well for us.”

Edwards was also named in the Scottish League One Team of the Year in the campaign before the most recent one, when Dunfermline won the title.

He is unaware of there being any concrete interest before Barnsley’s move earlier this year.

“The club didn’t want to sell me at the time – there was a big injury crisis at Dunfermline,” said Edwards. “If I’d left they’d have had about six first-teamers fully fit, or something like that. We were in a really bad spot.

“It would have been a bad time to leave the club for me as well – it wouldn’t have been a great way to go, with that situation.

“I had in my head that I’d had a good start to the season and if I had a good ending then the opportunity would still be there in the summer.

“I know it was a bit of a risk if I got injured, especially with what was happening at the club at the time. My manager at the time, James McPake, was desperate for me to stay.”

Edwards expected Barnsley to renew their attempts to sign him but the Yorkshire club had changed bosses – Neill Collins was sacked in April with

Darrell Clarke named as his successor in May.

“I had a call with Nathan and my head was flipped straight there,” said Edwards. “I loved what the gaffer was saying to me.

“He has managed in the Premier League and I know how he is going to want to play.

“As soon as we got on the call and had returned pleasantries it was straight down to what he is going to want from me and sees in me. It wasn’t just him trying to sell the club to me – he was asking what did I want to do in my career.

“I needed to see where I fitted into his plans. It’s good for him to know where I am at as well.

“It was a really positive meeting. I was drawn straight to the club.

“It moved pretty quickly, apart from the medical situation. I was away on holiday and I think my agent was then with another player, so he was away for a few days, but then it was done fairly quickly.”

Luke Berry, reunited with Jones after leaving Luton, told our paper recently about the Welshman telling him that the Hatters could reach the Championship when they were still a League Two club.

Berry and the Bedfordshire club went one better, spending last season in the Premier League.

So did Jones outline how high he felt Edwards could play?

“The main thing he was talking about was trying to get called up to Scotland,” said Edwards, who has signed a four-year contract with the Addicks.

“He asked what I wanted to do in my career and I replied I wanted to play in the Premier League. At that time I completely forgot I could go and play for Scotland. He said: ‘What about playing for Scotland?’

“I said: ‘Yeah, of course that would be one of the best things I could do’. He said: ‘Well, I think you can do it. Come here, take my advice, do the things I tell you to do and I think you will play for Scotland’.

“Hopefully it’s what I’ll be able to do, but I haven’t exactly picked the greatest position to play for Scotland, have I? There are a fair few good players in that position.

“It’s not great, is it? The only team in the world that doesn’t need a left-back and that’s where I’m trying to get in!”

Edwards’ career has been exclusively spent in his home country. He was on the books of Kilmarnock and Ayr United as a youngster before signing for Airdrieonians in 2017.

Dunfermline paid an undisclosed fee in July 2019.

Charlton is a big opportunity for Edwards but also a big change in terms of his life off the pitch. He is renting a flat in Kidbrooke.

“The plan is to buy somewhere,” said Edwards. “I’m at the age where I kind of want to get on the property ladder. The best place to do that is London.

“It’s obviously very expensive and a big investment but, in the future, it will be a good decision. That’s the plan me and my dad came up with because whatever I buy then I’m not going to lose money on it, worst-case scenario.

“I think I’ll settle down here no problem. I’ve enjoyed it so far, anyway. It’s been a lot easier than I thought it would be, with London being a big city. I’m not used to that, I’d lived in a town which was about half an hour away from a city.”

Edwards’ girlfriend came down on Sunday and the pair went sightseeing.

“I had been to London a few years ago with my dad,” he said. “I’ve been football daft for years so I went to the Emirates, Arsenal, and Wembley. There is a photo of my and my dad with the FA Cup trophy. I enjoyed that.

“I went with my girlfriend to Battersea Power Station. She had me wandering around shopping, I followed her about!

“Then we went back into the London Bridge area and Tower Bridge. It was a nice day weather-wise as well and I found a wee bottle of Irn-Bru at the shop. I love a wee Irn-Bru, in moderation obviously. It’s one of my favourite drinks.”

Charlton’s pre-season continues at home to Portsmouth tomorrow, the final friendly before the League One season kicks off at Wigan the following weekend.

The Addicks lost 2-0 at AFC Wimbledon on Saturday and have conceded in all their tune-up matches.

“The weekend wasn’t an ideal result but there were positives we can take from it,” said Edwards.

“The shape was good in areas. We’ve just conceded a slack goal, which the gaffer has been telling us we can’t allow to happen.

“It’s better for it to happen now and not in two weeks, when we have got a big game. In our heads the weekend result wasn’t good enough. No disrespect to Wimbledon, they took their chances well, but we can be better and prevent those chances.

“It’s a good lesson for us now, to go into the league season.

“I knew it would be a step up (coming to Charlton) but it has taken me back just how good everyone is.

“I’ve really enjoyed the challenge of training every day. I feel I’m getting better and better. Hopefully as a team we can get better and better.

“I think we’re going to be right up there and I know that is the gaffer’s opinion as well. What we’ve done in pre-season and what we are learning under the gaffer, I don’t see why we can’t do it.”

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