Nathan Jones may need to change Charlton Athletic stance - Birmingham City evidence proves it | OneFootball

Tyreece Campbell profited from the bench on Saturday against Birmingham City - and that could be a sign of his role going forward

After a rather alarming five-game losing run, Charlton Athletic fans and Nathan Jones were relieved to see the rot stopped on Saturday against Birmingham City.

The Addicks picked up their first points since November 4 at St Andrews via a spirited come-from-behind win against one of the better home sides in the division.

Not only will Nathan Jones be delighted with the side's grit and determination to grab an equaliser after Christoph Klarer headed the hosts in front in the first half, but he'll be happy to see Tyreece Campbell get on the scoresheet for the first time in the Championship.

Campbell had come under a lot of criticism throughout the campaign due to his involvement in what has been a rather dry frontline at the Valley this season — Saturday's draw was only the second time that the 22-year-old had come off the bench this year.

However, the Jamaican international had the Addicks fans in raptures against Birmingham, and Nathan Jones will be hoping that this is a sign of things to come.

Although if his goalscoring form is to continue, perhaps his role as an impact substitute should continue, too.

Tyreece Campbell may be better suited as an impact player at Charlton Athletic

Charlton academy graduate Campbell had a breakout year in the Addicks squad en route to promotion out of League One last season.

The 22-year-old started just once in the 16 games under Nathan Jones in the 2023/24 campaign, before then starting 37 times in league action last season, and then started in all three play-off games.

A four-goal spell in the space of three appearances towards the tail end of the campaign had Addicks fans excited about what Campbell could do going forward, but as it happened, his strike against Birmingham was his first since that effort against Cambridge United in April.

26 games had passed in that time, and Campbell had started 25 of them, providing just the one assist in those 25 starts. For an attacking player, Charlton fans were getting frustrated at his output.

In the one game that he came off the bench during that 24-game spell, he set up Miles Leaburn to score the third in Charlton's impressive 3-0 win against Ipswich Town at Portman Road.

So, in Campbell's last two appearances from the bench, he's scored one and set one up, so perhaps that may be where the 22-year-old has a bigger impact.

Campbell is still a raw, young talent, having turned 22 back in September. He may have close to 150 senior Addicks appearances, but that doesn't mean he's the finished product just yet in terms of end-product.

What he does have, though, is bags of pace and the willingness to run at defenders. If utilised in 20–25 minute bursts towards the end of games, he could truly take advantage of tired legs and create more scoring opportunities for himself and for his teammates.

Charlton Athletic still have a big striker issue — Tyreece Campbell's new role could help take the pressure off

Charlton were able to take a point from Birmingham at St Andrew's, but there'll be some real frustration that it wasn't all three, especially given Miles Leaburn's gilt-edged chance, which he blasted over from mere yards out.

With Campbell coming off the bench to score, there could be some suggestion of putting him back in from the off ahead of a big run where the Addicks take on Oxford United, Norwich City and Portsmouth, three of the current bottom four, in a three-game stretch before the new year.

However, it may not be a coincidence that the 22-year-old has had more goal involvements in his two bench appearances than he has in the 18 games he's started this season.

Coming on from the bench in a tight game, which the next three will be expected to be, and causing the issue could be the right way to help the Addicks maximise the amount of points they can take from this three-game run.

Charlton have struggled in front of goal so far this season, and their strikers, especially, have had a tough time putting the ball in the net. Campbell's first of the campaign could be a sign of the tides changing up top, but perhaps he'd be better suited to continue that run from the bench.