Charlton Athletic can reach Premier League on one clear Nathan Jones condition | OneFootball

Charlton Athletic could achieve back-to-back promotions taking them to the Premier League but one condition is clear if they're to do it

Charlton Athletic have got off to a flyer in their first season back in the Championship under the guidance of Nathan Jones.

It has been far from the start many Charlton Athletic fans expected to kick off their 2025/26 season, but for the better. After coming out victorious in the League One play-off final against Leyton Orient last term, many Addicks fans would have expected their team to be battling out at the lower end of the table trying to book their place in the second tier for a second season. However, it's been far from that.

Charlton currently occupy the final play-off spot with 19 points from their first dozen games. After some shrewd business in the summer, bringing in some marquee signings as well as keeping Nathan Jones around for their first season back in the Championship since 2019/20, it has bolstered the hopes of many Addicks fans, who are currently riding high, but also weighing up whether a spot in the Premier League come next season could be achievable.

If they are to alter their goals for the season ahead, one thing for certain is the importance of having Jones in the dugout. Having established himself as a proven manager in the EFL, his impressive work not just at Charlton but at the likes of Luton Town as well, mean that if the Addicks are to achieve the unthinkable of back-to-back promotions, it's hard to see that happening if he's not the man driving the team on.

Having shown what he's all about as a manager for some time now, if he is to continue in the same vein with terrific man management and tactical nous, then it wouldn't come as a surprise if he gains admiring glances from other clubs.

Nathan Jones is the key to Charlton Athletic's ongoing success

After taking the reins at the Valley in February 2024, Jones' time in Southeast London has been more than impressive having inherited a somewhat mediocre side in need of a revamp. Hitting the ground running made him an instant hit with the Charlton fans and earning promotion only emphasised that.

Jones has managed 87 games so far for the Addicks and has clocked up an impressive win percentage of 48% and is averaging 1.7 points per game. The only better average came in his first spell with the Hatters, where he had a win percentage of 52% and 1.8 PPG.

Despite promotion shouts being a long-shot for Charlton Athletic, with plenty more football still to be played in this Championship season, if they keep producing consistently high performance levels, then Jones' side have as good a shot as anyone to seal a spot in the Premier League.

With other sides in the division, such as Southampton, Ipswich, and Sheffield United, to name a few, not living up to expectations as of yet this season, the league is wide open and the Addicks are taking full advantage of that. Charlton have already earned three points against the latter two mentioned and credit has to go to Jones for those victories.

Charlton Athletic supporters will hope Nathan Jones is at the Valley for the long-term

The Welshman's tactical flexibility is what sets him apart from many other Championship mangers by having the ability to switch between a 5-3-2 and 4-2-3-1 dependent on the opposition, and drilling his way of thinking into his players so that they can carry out his instruction at ease are a testament to his managerial ability.

This is quite clearly reflected by his win percentages, as he sure knows how to get his sides churning out results. In a division as tough and tightly contested as the Championship, that desire to put in the extra yards for the manager, as well as having a slice of luck on your side, is what gets teams challenging for those top spots and Charlton are certainly doing that.

As for the here and now, it's cliché, but Charlton must take one game at a time if they have their sights set on cementing their position in the top six come the end of the season. With a meeting with Swansea City at the Valley next up on the fixture list, the Addicks will see that clash as one where a big three points is on offer, and if they achieve that, then other sides will begin to look at the side from Southeast London as a real force to be reckoned with this season.

However, as mentioned, one of the main key reasons for their ongoing success is Nathan Jones, and a big mission will be to keep him as the club for the foreseeable future. If Charlton can do that, then they have every chance of becoming a Premier League club again before we know it.