Nathan Jones must wince at missed Charlton Athletic transfer as new Millwall evidence emerges | OneFootball

Nathan Jones must be frustrated after missing out on Lyndon Dykes to Millwall after recent events

Charlton Athletic have made an excellent start to the 2026/27 Championship campaign, but after a difficult weekend, Welsh head coach Nathan Jones will be feeling fresh transfer frustration.

With victories over Derby County, West Ham United, and Preston North End in their opening three league games of the season, Charlton travelled to the Hawthorns last Wednesday and picked up a further point on the road after Tyreece Campbell's goal rescued a point for the Addicks in a 1-1 draw.

This meant they headed to the bet365 Stadium on Saturday in the top two to take on Stoke City, who found themselves in the bottom three after picking up just one win in their opening four games.

Nathan Jones will have been as keen as anyone to get a good result against his former side and continue Charlton's positive momentum, but unfortunately for the South-East London side, it wasn't to be.

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In the opening ten minutes of the clash, Charlton appeared to be the more dominant of the two sides, with their confidence evidently on display, as the Potters stood strong to withstand their early pressure.

However, Timothy Noor Ouma would pull Ben Wilmot to the ground from a corner kick in the 15th minute, awarding Stoke a penalty kick, which Justin Devenny converted, as the floodgates opened thereafter.

Goals from Ethan Galbraith, George Hirst, and another from Devenny meant Charlton were 4-0 down by half-time, as Danny McNamara replaced Tyreece Campbell in the 25th minute for damage control.

McNamara would last just five minutes into the second half, though, receiving a second yellow card after a brief discussion with referee Robert Madley, as the Addicks would succumb to a 4-0 defeat in the end, as a worrying trend is beginning to emerge in Jones' side.

None of Charlton Athletic's strikers has yet to find the back of the net this season

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After five games, Charlton have scored six times in the league, with Campbell netting three, Lloyd Jones netting twice from centre-back, and Karlan Grant grabbing one thus far.

With Grant preferred out wide, this means that none of Charlton's centre-forwards has yet to find the back of the net in the Championship at this stage, as Jones must look to remedy this worrying trend ASAP.

Matty Godden started up top in their opening day victory over Derby, but was withdrawn on the hour mark, and hasn't been involved in a matchday squad since.

Miles Leaburn has started the following four league games up top, with Micah Mbick regularly introduced off the bench, but neither have been able to get up and running for the season as yet.

Charlie Kelman has also been out with an injury, as Jones will be looking for the former Leyton Orient hitman to have an immediate impact upon his eventual return to the Charlton side and put an end to this worrying trend.

Nathan Jones will feel fresh frustration after missing out on Lyndon Dykes to Millwall after this weekend's events

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With his side having lost resoundingly to Stoke, Jones will feel even more disappointment from the weekend after looking around the grounds in the Championship, specifically at Millwall's 4-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers, in which Lyndon Dykes netted twice.

Dykes, 30, spent the second half of last season contracted at The Valley following his free move from Birmingham City, scoring three and assisting three in 20 games for the club.

The Scottish international was subsequently offered a new deal by Charlton after his contract expired in the summer, but he would instead choose to join London rivals Millwall, with whom he has appeared in every game so far.

With Dykes finding the back of the net twice at the weekend, Jones will undoubtedly feel some fresh transfer frustration after missing out on the former Queens Park Rangers striker.

Why Charlton Athletic wanted to re-sign Lyndon Dykes

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Dykes has been a regular in the Championship for the majority of the past six years, having first made his move to English football from Scottish side Livingston in 2020.

The 30-year-old has made a century of appearances in the Scottish Championship and a further 200 in the English Championship, bringing bags of experience and, given his age, ought to be in his physical prime.

It's no surprise that Charlton and Jones were looking to reunite with Dykes once again this summer, and watching him thrive for their cross-city rivals will certainly sting.

However, the Addicks have made an excellent start to the season nonetheless without the Scottish striker, and if Jones can get his centre-forward options ticking, it could be a year to remember at The Valley yet.