Nigel Adkins has made two changes to his starting XI for Charlton’s crunch clash against champions Hull City in SE7 this Sunday lunchtime (12pm), with Diallang Jaiyesimi returning to the Addicks bench.
Albie Morgan replaces the injured Jake Forster-Caskey after impressing in midweek, while Conor Washington comes in for Ben Purrington as Ian Maatsen shifts to left back.
With the versatility of Adkins’ selection, the Addicks could employ a 4-3-3 with Washington and Liam Millar flanking Jayden Stockley or a 4-4-2 should the Northern Irishman partner Stockley up front, with Morgan and Millar providing width.
If the former option then Adam Matthews, Ryan Inniss, Akin Famewo and Maatsen will form the back four in front of Ben Amos. The returning Morgan will accompany captain Ben Watson and Alex Gilbey in Adkins’ three-man midfield, with Washington and Millar supplying Stockley.
Jaiyesimi returns to the bench after a three-game absence and is joined by Ashley Maynard-Brewer, Chris Gunter, Jason Pearce, Darren Pratley, Andrew Shinnie and Chuks Aneke.
Speaking on his team selection, the Charlton manager said: “We need to win the game of football and we’ve got 100 minutes to go and do it. Obviously when we talk about Chuks [Aneke] he was phenomenal the other day when he came off the bench wasn’t he, so from our point of view what a great impact player we’ve got for him to go and do that. We’ve got DJ [Diallang Jaiyesimi] on the bench as well - we’re going to take a gamble with him. Again, the last 10 minutes we might need to see where the goals situation is so we’re having him on the bench.
“Ian Maatsen will play in the left back position so it’s tough on Ben Purrington because I really like Ben, but we're going to play Ian in that left back position. Albie [Morgan] will come in and play in that position where Jake [Forster-Caskey] was - a talented young player who came through the youth system here. You can see already in the couple of games that I’ve managed to get him on the pitch that he’s got a great range of passing, his set play delivery has been exceptional and that could be the difference today between winning and losing the game.”
Charlton: Amos; Matthews, Inniss, Famewo, Maatsen; Morgan, Watson (C), Gilbey; Washington, Stockley, Millar
Substitutes: Maynard-Brewer, Gunter, Pearce, Pratley, Shinnie, Jaiyesimi, Aneke
Article by James Waller