Terell Thomas: I want to stay at Charlton Athletic beyond this season

Terell Thomas has confirmed that he would like to stay at The Valley beyond this season.

The 27-year-old defender came up through the Addicks academy but was released before ever making a first-team appearance in 2017.

He returned to SE7 as a free agent in September last year, but his deal is set to expire at the end of the season.

“Yes [I’d like to stay], most definitely,” said Thomas.

“As a squad and personally, we’re just all thinking about the rest of the games. That stuff will sort itself out. If or when it happens. I’m just concentrating on playing as many games as possible and keep putting in good performances to allow us to finish as strong as possible.

“I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s a place that I’ve known since I was 14. I really want to succeed here in the long-term if that’s possible. I’ve really enjoyed coming back.”

A centre-back by trade, the former AFC Wimbledon man has found himself filling in at left-back over the last few weeks – including during Saturday’s 6-0 home win over Shrewsbury Town.

He’s only made five league starts this campaign – including in three of the last four games with Steven Sessegnon resting a knee issue and Ipswich Town loanee and natural left-back Matt Penney out of form.

“I’ve enjoyed it,” added Thomas, when asked about the unfamiliar role.

“I play on the front foot anyway. The way I play left-back, we’ve tweaked a couple of things. It helps me in the ability to get up and down. I’m a centre-aback, not a born left-back, but I’ve come into the position really well and have really enjoyed it.

“Fantastic performance [against Shrewsbury]. Everyone, the subs that came on, the starting 11, everyone was fantastic today. Everything that we tried worked. There’s not much that went wrong. Everyone’s performance was top class. The goals we scored were taken greatly. Good finishes, team goals, individual goals like Jes [Rak-Sakyi’s] were outstanding.

“We’ve spoken as a team, it’s frustrating to think that we can put in these performances is that we are where we are in the league. It’s a thing where we know what we’re capable of. It’s about the games until the end of the season. Continue this energy we’ve got about us. Quality that we’re putting in in the games. We’ll see how the end of the season goes.”

PHOTOS: PAUL EDWARDS