Charlton Athletic review of the week: Edwards steps up rehab, Kanu wins top EFL award and Docherty discusses winless run for Addicks
Former academy product Shelvey takes on first managerial role
It’s the latest Charlton Athletic review of the week. We start with some exclusive quotes from Nathan Jones on a player who would have been a mainstay in the side this season, if injury had not struck.
Josh Edwards in action on the opening day against Watford/Picture: Kyle Andrews
EDWARDS REHAB UPDATE
I thought it was best to kick off this round-up with some positive news (especially after that forgettable trip to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday), and so what better place to start than with an update on Josh Edwards.
The Scottish left-sided defender was excellent in the League One play-off winning campaign - ensuring that Thierry Small could only really get minutes in the run-in down the right.
Edwards started the opening six Championship matches but suffered ankle ligament damage after a poor challenge by Blackburn’s Ryan Alebiosu in late September.
The 25-year-old has made 53 appearances since signing from Dunfermline in June 2024.
“He is back running now,” Nathan Jones told South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition.
“It’s been a long process for him. He didn’t have a setback, he just didn’t get the mobility back into the ankle afterwards - it was a bad ankle injury. When he was ready to run he didn’t quite have the mobility which would have caused problems further down the line.
“So he had to have a manipulation which set him back a few months. Once we knew he’s was not going to come back until April, or whenever, it was a case of right, let’s get him back for July. That is why we have taken our time and been sensible with it, because we want him to have a good career long term and not just rush him back for two games now. That would be detrimental to him.”
Charlton took Luke Chambers on loan from Liverpool in the winter transfer window to boost their options. The 21-year-old, who made his debut in the 4-0 hammering at Millwall, has started 15 of the 16 matches he has been available for, only sitting out the home match against Wrexham.
KANU HONOUR
Charlton striker Dan Kanu has won League Two’s Young Player of the Season award - reward for netting 15 goals during his season-long loan at Walsall.
The 21-year-old Lambeth-born player made the temporary switch to the Saddlers in August. He has previously had a loan stint at Southend United in 2023.
He said: “I’ve just got to thank God. It’s been a whirlwind of a season.
“I’m just grateful to Walsall for continuously taking care of me and helping me develop as a young player.
“Development is the most important thing, especially when you go on loan, and I’ve tried my best to give back to them in goals.”
South London Sport caught up with Kanu earlier in the season.
DOCHERTY: PLAYERS ARE STUNG BY WINLESS CHARLTON RUN
Greg Docherty says that Charlton Athletic’s winless spell is “sore” for the players just as much as it is for the fans.
The Addicks are six games without a victory after Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday.
Charlton’s last three-point haul came at Middlesbrough on March 11. That inability to see out matches - they led against the Owls through a neat finish by Matty Godden - has left them still at threat of getting sucked into the relegation zone.
“We’ve not won since Middlesbrough so it is sore - it hurts us and I’m sure they (supporters) can see it,” Docherty told South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition after the full-time whistle at Hillsborough.
“I was at an event on Tuesday night at the stadium and spoke to a few of the fans - we are all together. We are frustrated and we have arguments in the dressing room after a game and in training every day. We just want to start winning more games.
“We’ve won plenty of games but not won enough recently. We don’t want the season just to peter out. We want to finish on a positive note. They came and backed us in numbers today and probably deserved a win because of that. We are giving everything but we’re just not getting 90-minute performances to merit the three points that we did earlier in the season.”
Charlton face an Ipswich Town side on Wednesday night that moved back into the top two with a 2-2 draw against Boro at the weekend.
Then Hull City, one of Docherty’s former clubs, head to SE7 on Saturday looking to strengthen their grip on a play-off place.
But Docherty does not see it as a problem that they have two promotion-chasing sides to come to The Valley.
“Just because they are fighting for something doesn’t mean it’s a given they will get the three points,” said the Scot. “This league punches you in the nose when you least expect it.
“It (Ipswich) is a good game to go into because it will be a high-intensity game and one where we want to go and right some wrongs of late.”
SHELVEY RETIRES
Jonjo Shelvey has ended his playing career to take on the manager’s job at Arabian Falcons FC, who compete in the third tier in the United Arab Emirates.
The 34-year-old progressed through Charlton’s academy. He made his debut aged 16 and featured 48 times at first-team level before being sold to Liverpool for £1.7million in April 2010. The Addicks were fifth in League One at the time.
Shelvey said: “My ambition is to climb to the very top of management and this is the perfect project to prove myself and what I’m capable of.”
He did an interview with BBC Sport in October explaining his decision to play for Arabian Falcons.
“I’m happy and content. I’m just at the stage now where I want to enjoy football. It’s about waking up, enjoying what I do and spending time with my family.
“If I’m honest, I don’t want my children growing up in England any more. We’re very lucky that we lived in a nice part of the UK but where I’m from, originally, you can’t have nice things in my opinion.
“I’d never wear a watch in London any more. You can’t have your phone out in London, in my view.”
PARKY HAS FREEDOM
Phil Parkinson has been awarded the freedom of Wrexham County Borough.
The former Charlton boss has led Wrexham to three successive promotions. It could still become four as they are seventh in the Championship with three matches left to play.
The club’s owners Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds also had the same honour bestowed on them in 2022.
“It’s a great indication of the impact a football club can have on the community and that’s been recognised with the honour I’ve received,” said Parkinson “Obviously I’m well aware that I’ve had so much support in the five years I’ve been here.
“I’ve been very fortunate to work with fantastic owners in Rob and Ryan and a great structure of people from the coaching staff and some fantastic players over the years, with many significant contributions.”
ELLIOT GATESHEAD AWARD
Former Charlton goalkeeper Rob Elliot won National League Manager of the Month for March - quite rightly so after a stunning reversal of their fortunes.
The Heed looked destined for relegation, at one point they were 11 points adrift at the foot of the table.
But Elliot led Gateshead to five victories last month and that has made them mathematically safe.
Elliot, who came through the Addicks’ academy to make more than 100 first-team appearances, took over at the non-league outfit in January.
LEE WINS GOAL OF THE MONTH
Elliot Lee’s volleyed finish for Doncaster Rovers against Plymouth Argyle has won League One Goal of the Month for March.
The 31-year-old, who had a season-long loan with Charlton in the 2021-22 campaign, has netted twice for Donny since signing from Wrexham at the start of February.
Lee said: “It’s a nice award to win - I haven’t won a goal of the month award before. It’s great to get the recognition and I’m delighted.
“Sometimes you have to whack it as hard as you can and see where it goes. Fortunately, it went into the back of the net. It’s definitely up there with the best I’ve scored, with the technique involved. Coming back from the knee injury I had at Wrexham, it meant a lot to me personally.”
Lead Sky Bet EFL Goal of the Month judge and Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman said: “Elliot’s goal was an absolute peach and the reaction of his team-mates tells you all you need to know.
“The clearance dropped to him initially with his back to goal and he instinctively adjusted his feet and flashed a first-time volley past the keeper, who was rooted to the spot.”
Picture: Kyle Andrews
JACKSON’S DONS IN TROUBLE
Johnnie Jackson’s AFC Wimbledon side have been dragged into the League One relegation battle after a truly abject run of results.
The Dons have lost eight of their last nine matches, collecting one draw, and are only two points above the bottom four with two fixtures to play.
Wimbledon play at Wigan on Saturday before finishing at home against Huddersfield Town.
Jackson said: “At the end of the day, we need a result and it wasn't today. There's no getting away from it, fortunately, it's still in our hands. We could have walked in today and found out the result elsewhere and it puts a different picture on it, but we have got our destiny in our own hands.
“There can't be any moping about, whinging and whining and stuff like that this week and there won't be.”
Jackson joined AFC Wimbledon in May 2022, almost instantly after being dismissed by Charlton.
MARTIN GONE
Lee Martin, who had a loan spell with Charlton in the 2010-11 season, has left his role as Ramsgate manager.
The 39-year-old, was initially appointed interim boss in November before getting the job on a permanent basis.
Ramsgate are mid-table in the Isthmian League Premier Division.
The club posted a statement on their X account: "When Lee Martin came into the club, we were in a difficult position and facing the real possibility of relegation. His remit was simple - to keep us in the league. Lee achieved that.
”Results improved quickly and, at one stage, we even found ourselves looking towards the play-off places, which is a credit to the work done during that period.
”However, a challenging recruitment period leading into March meant that, over the final six weeks of the season, the playing budget was significantly underspent. That period has been reflected in our recent run of results, with six defeats from our last seven games, including this week’s cup final. This decision reflects the direction we want to take as a club, not any one result.
“We would like to place on record our thanks to Lee for the job he has done. He came in at a difficult time, helped realign our objectives, and ensured the club moves forward from a stable position.”
Great to hear that Rob Elliot is doing so well at Gateshead after losing his job at Crawley. Very pleased as well for Dan Kanu, a dedicated young professional.
I don’t know about the freedom of Wrexham, but I’d happily give Parky the freedom of SE7 if his Wrexham side win at Oxford on Tuesday.