Football League World
·1 October 2024
In partnership with
Yahoo sportsFootball League World
·1 October 2024
Charlton Athletic will face Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium on Tuesday night.
Charlton Athletic will be looking to get back to winning ways when they face Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium on Tuesday night.
After an encouraging start to the season which saw them win each of their opening three league games, Charlton Athletic have since picked up just four points from their last five outings in League One.
The Addicks' defeat at Stevenage on Saturday made it back-to-back defeats for Nathan Jones' side, after Blackpool collected all three points at The Valley the previous week following a lacklustre first half performance from the hosts.
Jones discussed the game against Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night in an interview that was posted on the club website, highlighting Charlton's need to earn a positive result.
"We need to [put things right on Tuesday]," said Jones.
"We've got to go back to basics and make sure that we're better in what we do, and hopefully we can start picking up results again.
"Look, we've lost two but we were third in the league before that, we've just slipped down in the last two games, so we're not panicking in any way, it's just I'd like us to be better with the work that we do."
Let's take a look at the current availability in Charlton's squad, with there being a couple of players who could be ruled out through injury.
Charlton striker Gassan Ahadme is set to be back in contention after missing the trip to Stevenage with a fractured nose. The 23-year-old scored the winner against Shrewsbury Town during the Addicks' most recent victory in League One.
Jones spoke about the circumstances surrounding the striker's return via the club website.
"He just needed his mask to arrive - he can't play without the mask," said the Welshman.
"It's arrived now so he will hopefully be back in contention."
Fellow striker Miles Leaburn is still yet to return to first-team action following the serious hamstring injury he suffered last year, although he seems to be edging closer to being available.
The promising youngster scored for the under-21's against Watford's age-equivalent side at Vicarage Road a couple of weeks ago, but Jones stated ahead of the Blackpool game that he needed enough minutes before he was ready to make his return.
"It was a serious injury, albeit a muscular one, so he has to be psychologically ready, and we have to get enough football into him so he can tolerate the physicality of League One football," said the Charlton boss.
Teenage defender Zach Mitchell is the other player who could potentially be ruled out after he was forced off with an injury during the Addicks' EFL Trophy victory over Cambridge United earlier this month.
In other news, midfielder Luke Berry will be suspended for the visit of Birmingham City this weekend if he picks up his fifth booking of the season against the Gas.
Charlton were beaten home and away by Bristol Rovers last season, with the Gas scoring injury-time winners in both meetings between the sides.
Bristol Rovers have lost their last four games in League One, so this game provides a real opportunity for Charlton to get back to winning ways.
Former Charlton centre-back Matt Taylor, who is the manager at the Memorial Stadium, has said that his side will look to start the month in a "different fashion" when they face his former club on Tuesday night.
The Addicks need a win, but it won't be easy against a team that also needs their fortunes to change.