Nathan Jones explains why top scorer Alfie May was left out of starting line-up for Charlton’s trip to Bolton
Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones has explained his decision to bench top scorer Alfie May for Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Bolton Wanderers.
The Addicks started with a front two of Daniel Kanu and Freddie Ladapo at the Tough Sheet Community Stadium.
May has bagged 20 goals in all competitions but has only scored once in his last 12 appearances for the South Londoners. He was introduced as an 86th minute substitute.
“I always like to have four strikers,” explained Jones.
“We didn’t drop Alfie May today. What we did was try to find a way so that when the game opens up – he hasn’t scored in a certain amount of time – so same as we did with Freddie [Ladapo, who scored from off the bench against Lincoln in midweek], sometimes you have to really toil at the start and then chances come late on when the main strikers are tired.
“We thought bring him on at 60, the game will open up and he’ll get chances. But Dan [Kanu] was in such good form that we just brought on Chuks [Aneke] on. It not terms of dropping people, it’s a fact of using four strikers to win a game and that’s what we’ll do.”
Kanu gave the Addicks a 3-2 lead just beyond the hour-mark, firing home via the inside of the post. The 19-year-old has started in each of the last two games, ahead of more senior strikers such as either May or Ladapo.
Jones explained: “I didn’t show faith in [Kanu]. I picked him on his performance. Karoy Anderson is another one. It’s wonderful to see these young players who have come through Charlton’s academy, which is a fantastic academy, doing well. Seeing them embrace everything.
“They don’t let you down. I’ve always been a developer of young players. I like young players because you can mould them. Coupled with everyone else it was a wonderful performance.”
PHOTO: KYLE ANDREWS
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