Kayne Ramsay situation could force Nathan Jones into big Charlton Athletic change for Sheffield United | OneFootball

Nathan Jones should take advantage of Kayne Ramsay's suspension to shift the system at Charlton Athletic.

Charlton Athletic had a bright start to the 2025/26 Championship campaign, but things have fallen off a little bit and a tactical tweak may be needed, and it may now be easier to happen with the suspension of Kayne Ramsay.

Charlton, under the management of Nathan Jones, gained promotion from League One via the play-offs last season and the Addicks boss was tasked with creating a squad that was capable of being competitive in the second-tier.

They spent reasonably heavily, most notably shelling out £5 million for Queens Park Rangers striker Charlie Kelman, who was top scorer in League One last year whilst on loan at a Leyton Orient side that Charlton defeated in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium.

Charlton started steadily and looked as though they would be extremely difficult to beat and score against in the second-tier last month, but a 1-1 draw with Millwall at The Valley at the weekend means that they are now winless in five matches across all competitions.

A major reason for that frustrating draw with their south London rivals was the sending off of right-back Kayne Ramsay, who picked up a couple of yellow cards and he will now be unavailable for their clash with Sheffield United, in what is Chris Wilder’s first game back in charge of his third stint at Bramall Lane.

Jones could use the absence of Ramsay to shake things up a little but at Charlton, and revert back to the back three that he has used to great effect as a coach in the past.

Charlton could use the Kayne Ramsay suspension to tweak things

Former Southampton defender Ramsay has been playing at right-back in a back four for Charlton this season, with Jones seemingly keen on playing a 4-2-3-1 to perhaps get the best out of their attackers and, most importantly, Kelman, who thrived in that system for Orient last season.

However, a lot of the business done by Jones and the club over the summer indicated a desire to play a back-three and Ramsay’s most natural replacement certainly did.

James Bree could come in to play at right-back, with the former Barnsley and Luton Town man capable of playing there, on the right-side of a back three or at wing-back.

However, Joe Rankin-Costello, who joined from Blackburn Rovers, would surely be the better option for that role with the 26-year-old adept at playing at wing-back or at full-back but, with his attacking intention, seemingly more suited to the wing-back role.

That would allow Charlton to shift things around a bit and get one of their abundance of centre-backs into the side to partner Lloyd Jones and Amari’i Bell, the latter someone who thrived on the left-side of a back three when at Luton Town.

Reece Burke, also formerly of Luton, could easily slot in alongside them as well as last season’s play-off final winning goal scorer and key man from last season, Macaulay Gillesphey.

The signings of Bell, Bree, Burke and Rankin-Costello indicated a likely shift to a back three and it would surely now make sense to take advantage of the suspended Ramsay to shift the system.

A tactical shift could also benefit Charlton in attack

As well as seemingly suiting their defensive players a bit better, it would also allow Charlton to build a defensive rigidity, which they had to great effect in League One, and a platform for their attack to flourish.

If it was to be be a 3-4-2-1 or a 3-4-3 with wingers, Charlton could deploy Rob Apter and Harvey Knibbs in supporting roles behind one of their abundance of striking options.

However, if it was to be a 3-5-2 then their naturally industrious and tenacious midfield could fall in to place behind a front two selected from the likes of Tyreece Campbell, Miles Leaburn, the aforementioned Kelman or Knibbs, or Isaac Olaofe.

Charlton started well but even their one win this season came deep into second-half stoppage-time on the opening day and it wouldn’t be unreasonable to suggest something needs changing in order to improve.

Jones has had success with the back three in the past at Luton, as well as at Charlton, and a tactical shift, based on their recruitment and the profiles of players in their squad, could now majorly benefit them.