Young Charlton Athletic duo don’t need loans this season to continue their playing development

Steve Avory feels that Charlie Barker and Aaron Henry can kick on at Charlton without the need for a loan move this season.

The young duo have both featured for the Addicks in pre-season with Barker playing right-back in the second half of the 2-2 friendly draw at Palace on Tuesday.

“For every young player, just because they’ve had some first-team experience like Aaron and Charlie have, it is not necessarily the right thing to then go on loan straight away,” said Charlton academy boss Avory. “There is a lot of talk about that – getting senior experience – but let’s not forget we do have an U23 development group.

“In Aaron and Charlie’s case they are still only first-year pros. Aaron is not 18 until the middle of August. So they can develop with us.

“It’s about timing and finding some compatibility in terms of where do they go? You’ve got to find the right club and to be developing under the right manager and coach at that club. That senior football experience should certainly be a consideration for someone who is 20, 21 – but not necessarily someone who is 18.

“We have got this development team and very good development coaches in people like Anthony Hayes as well, who can also develop them in U23 football. For some of the older ones, if they don’t quite squeeze into Nigel Adkins’ immediate plans, it will be the right thing as part of their development to still get that senior football experience.

“I’m hoping that one or two of them, whether it is Aaron or someone else, can force their way into Nigel’s thoughts.

“Those [loans] will be discussions at the end of pre-season. At the moment they are all very much part of that group that is involved in each game.”