‘We won’t stand in his way’ – Michael Appleton on Charlton midfielder’s future after absence from squad against Peterborough

Michael Appleton says he won’t stand in Scott Fraser’s way if a chance for the midfielder to depart Charlton Athletic presented itself during the January transfer window.

The Scottish playmaker was absent from the Addicks squad for Saturday’s home defeat against Peterborough and hasn’t started a game since the Boxing Day loss at Leyton Orient.

Charlton have recruited heavily in the middle of the park with Tyreeq Bakinson, Lewis Fiorini and Conor Coventry all arriving in SE7 in the last 10 days.

Fraser has scored 10 goals in his 78 Addicks appearances since joining from Ipswich Town two years ago – but only one of those came this season against non-league Cray Valley PM in the FA Cup.

“I’d never say never,” said Appleton when asked if Fraser may move on this month.

“Certainly, if the opportunity did come, we won’t be standing in his way.

“It would be stupid of me to say [that Fraser is not down the pecking order]. We’ve got loads of players in that area now. We’ve got some young players that we feel are going to go on and get better and better over the next 12-18 months.

“When you’re looking to affect a game and use someone off the bench to try and create something, Scott over the period of time has been quite good at that. But we feel we’re going in a direction where we’re still trying to have experience but have a little bit more injection of energy, pace, athleticism, all of these things.

“Scott has been as good as gold – he’s a professional, he comes in and trains. But if we’re going to go forward, if we want to be where Peterborough are right now, some big decision and tough decisions have to be made and that’s just one of them.”

PHOTOS: PAUL EDWARDS