Karl Robinson hopeful of new arrival and previews Bristol Rovers clash

Karl Robinson revealed that he could be close to adding to his squad at his pre-match press conference on Thursday morning. 

The Addicks host Bristol Rovers at The Valley on Saturday - their opening match of the season – and the boss informed the local media that a new face may be in his squad for the match.

Robinson also discussed the start of the season and his team selection for the weekend, all of which you can read about below. 

On looking forward to the start of the season…

“If you can remember to when you were young, now is a bit like Christmas eve. You don’t quite know what you’re going to get and you think about whether you’ve done things right over the course of the year. 

“To a football manager and football fans, this is Christmas eve because we’ve been building up to it and we’re still not too sure what we’re going to get. It’s the first game of the season, there is always a bit of unpredictability around it and it you never know. I’m excited, I really am.”

On his desire to playing attacking football this season…

“Hopefully. It’s got to be disciplined as well. The players have really bought into what we are trying to do and I think they will tell you that they have enjoyed it because our results have proved that. 

“More importantly have been the performances within that. We have got better in every game and I think there is still more room for improvement. We are solely focused on Bristol, we have been preparing for them for the last seven days – and in some ways six weeks – and we are looking forward to the challenge.”

On selecting his team…

“I know my starting XI and I will tell the players on Friday morning. I knew it after watching three games of Bristol Rovers’. 

“It’s important that we get it right, if we do have an injury within the group then we will keep that internal until the weekend. 

“Hopefully the players that come in will perform to the best of their abilities as well.”

On Charlton being close to bringing someone in…

“We’re very close to bringing someone in. I can’t say who it is. Tariqe Fosu’s been out throughout the course of pre-season, Ricky Holmes has been out and Billy Clarke had an ankle problem.

“When you look beyond them, we don't have anyone. We have three players who play in that offensive position, who are very attacking but we only have four right now.

“We need somebody else to fit in there. So, we’ll have to see what today brings. Hopefully he’ll be training with us today.

“I’d like to think we’d have someone in by Saturday and we could use him. It doesn't take a genius to work out who it is.”

Karl Robinson’s pre-match press conference is available to watch in full on Valley Pass 

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