Charlton Athletic sign international star but there is a red flag - Nathan Jones will hope it doesn't become a big issue | OneFootball

Charlton Athletic and Nathan Jones will hope their new signing isn't affected by previous troubles

Charlton Athletic signed Amari' Bell earlier this summer following the expiration of his contract at Luton Town.

The 31-year-old has penned a two-year deal with the Addicks, reuniting with former boss Nathan Jones.

Bell was an ever-present for Luton as they achieved promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs and would go on to appear 21 times in the top-flight.

The defender has also won 28 caps for Jamaica, boosting his credentials to that of an international operator.

Charlton will hope Amari' Bell can overcome his injury woes

Bell’s influence on the Luton Town defence was sorely missed during portions of last season, as the Hatters suffered relegation to League One.

Worryingly for the 31-year-old, this was the second season in succession where he has struggled massively with fitness.

The defender missed 181 days of football during the 2023/24 campaign before missing a further 83 the following term.

Hamstring problems seem to be a specific area of concern for Bell and something Charlton will surely be aware of heading into next season.

Injury issues are something Bell has never had to deal with previously in his career, starting 86 of the 92 league fixtures Luton played in during his first two years at the club.

Speaking to Luton Today, the new Charlton signing commented on how his fitness woes gave him a different outlook on playing football.

“"It was tough because until that moment I felt like I was invincible. I played however many 90 minutes back-to-back and I thought my body was indestructible, but it kind of gave me a humbling experience. I feel like also not to take advantage of the beautiful game and to just to enjoy every moment and not take it for granted.”

Charlton have an excellent defender if Amari' Bell can stay fit

Injury issues can often end up calling time on a player’s prime and Charlton will desperately hope that isn’t the case with Bell.

At his best, he played a consistent role in one of the Championship's best teams and would be a real coup for the Addicks if he can return to that level.

Jones has previously maximised Bell’s ability in the past and will hope his man management skills can help the 31-year-old bounce back from the tough patch he has recently been through.

Charlton will be targeting survival as their baseline goal for next season and will be expected to grind out some results in back-to-the-wall fashion.

Having an experienced head, who knows what it takes to succeed in the Championship, will be a valuable asset in those scenarios.

Time will tell whether Bell can stay fit, but both he and Jones will be crossing their respective fingers that the worst of his fitness woes are in the past.