Kayne Ramsay hoping for James Bree stay at Charlton Athletic, Saints keeper at fault as Addicks win again in WSL 2, Mbick earns England U20 call-up and Godden 'case study'
The latest review of the week - a round-up of Charlton Athletic news
We wrap up all the news relating to Charlton Athletic over the previous seven days.
James Bree is on loan at Charlton
Picture: Keith Gillard
RAMSAY HOPING FOR BREE STAY IN SE7
Kayne Ramsay is hoping that James Bree sticks around at Charlton Athletic beyond the January transfer window - with the Southampton loanee unable to face his parent club when the Championship action resumes on November 22.
The 27-year-old right-sided defender joined the Addicks on September 1 on a short-term deal.
Bree, who is out of contract at the end of this season, has featured in all 11 league matches since arriving. He has started nine of them and scored twice - including a goal of the season contender at Derby County - as well as recording three assists.
“Breezer feels like one of us - it would be lovely if he could potentially stay on,” said Ramsay, who came through the youth ranks with the Saints. “I’m genuinely not sure (if he will be staying) but I keep telling him: ‘I’ll see you February 1!’
“I’ve been on loans and some managers think they can’t trust you because you are not their player. But, as you can see, week in and week out [he can be trusted]. He has been playing with a little niggle himself and today (Saturday) he put it in all the way to the last whistle, credit to him.”
Ramsay enjoyed pitting himself against Wrexham’s giant frontman Kieffer Moore in Saturday’s fixture. Often the experienced striker would position himself on either Ramsay or Macaulay Gillesphey - not seeking to engage with Lloyd Jones.
It was also Ramsay’s task to try and hinder Moore from set-pieces when Jones always tends to defend zonally.
“I don’t mind the battle - I told him after the game that he is a big boy,” said Ramsay. “You have just got to stick in. He’s probably a whole foot taller than me, so instead of jumping you’ve got to get really physical.
Kayne Ramsay talks to former Charlton captain George Dobson before the match on Saturday
Picture: Kyle Andrews
“He makes about four different movements before a set-piece, which is tough, but we didn’t concede from a corner.”
Charlton Athletic headed into the latest Championship shutdown in ninth place after Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Wrexham.
Undoubtedly the highlight of the previous seven days was the late winner scored by Sonny Carey in Tuesday night’s victory over West Bromwich Albion at The Valley.
Sonny Carey interacts with the Charlton fans after his late goal sealed victory against West Brom in midweek
Picture: Paul Edwards
Not listened to the post-match pod from midweek? It’s here.
And myself and Louis Mendez sat down at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday evening to pick over the setback in Wales. Plus we hear from manager Nathan Jones and Ramsay.
Picture: Kyle Andrews
MBICK PICKED FOR ENGLAND DUTY
Micah Mbick’s fine loan spell at Colchester United has seen him selected by England U20s for the first time.
The powerful striker has scored five goals and claimed one assist in 12 appearances for the U’s. He played 90 minutes as they lost 2-0 to Bromley on Saturday.
Mbick will hope to gain minutes in the young Three Lions’ friendly against Japan at Doncaster Rovers’ Eco-Power Stadium on Friday.
The match is a 7.30pm kick off.
Mbick is the only striker named in boss Ben Futcher’s squad who is not at a Premier League club. Ethan Wheatley is playing for Northampton Town but he is on loan from Manchester United.
Mbick is one of three players contracted to a Championship outfit. The rest are either on the books of top-flight clubs in England or abroad.
He will miss Colchester’s League Two fixture at Walsall on Saturday.
WOMEN EXTEND UNBEATEN START
Charlton Athletic Women extended their undefeated opening to the WSL 2 campaign to eight matches after a 2-1 victory over Southampton on Sunday.
The Addicks are four points clear of nearest rivals Bristol City, who are next up in the league at The Valley this weekend.
Charlton’s opener was down to poor goalkeeping from Southampton goalkeeper Fran Stenson, who made a complete mess of dealing with a lobbed effort by Amelie Thestrup in the 35th minute.
And Stenson will not want to watch back the second goal on 55 minutes. Jodie Hutton curled in a left-footed free-kick and the Saints stopper made no attempt to deal with the ball as it crept inside the far post.
The Addicks have been awarded a 3-0 win after Portsmouth were unable to fulfil their League Cup match earlier this month.
Pompey did not play the tie due to what they described as an “unprecedented” number of injuries - claiming to have just nine fit players to select.
Portsmouth had initially requested a postponement of the fixture.
Charlton play in the competition on Wednesday against Brighton. West Ham United top Group C and thumped the south Londoners 5-1 in late September.
GODDEN: MY INJURY HAS BECOME A CASE STUDY
Matty Godden was a guest on the talkSPORT Breakfast show with Alan Brazil and Dean Saunders on Friday morning and was quizzed about his injury absence for Charlton Athletic.
The striker, who topped the goal charts for the Addicks last season, has not played since the League One play-off final against Leyton Orient.
Godden had an operation in the summer and admitted that the rare nature of his problem has slowed his recovery.
“I played through it from January onwards,” Godden told the radio station. “Then I had to have surgery in the summer. I was told six weeks and here we are week 13 - it’s a slow one. We’ll get there in the end.
“They are doing case studies on it now - it’s never been seen before. My actual knee is fine but I damaged a bit of tissue when I took a whack last year. Instead of that healing when I played through it, it calcified. I had a bit of calcification form on a bit of tissue that is irritating me.”
Picture: Keith Gillard
MWAMBA CONTRACT EXTENSION
Alan Mwamba has signed a new deal with Charlton Athletic.
The Addicks have only described it as “long-term” without specifying the length.
Mwamba, 19, has impressed with his physicality and energy when he has featured for Nathan Jones’ side.
The teenager gained minutes in pre-season and came on as a late substitute in both EFL Cup ties against Stevenage and Cambridge United.
“It’s a blessing to sign a new contract and be recognised as someone who deserves one,” said Croydon-born Mwamba. “It encourages me to push on and show what I can bring as a player and also as a person.
“I’ve been here since U12s and I feel like it’s been a really good journey with ups and downs. To get to this stage shows that if I keep doing what I’ve been doing then I can make it even further.”
Charlton boss Jones added: “I’m delighted Alan has signed a new contract with the club. He’s a wonderful young player with a really bright future. We handed him his debut against Cambridge United last year and he’s continued to progress since then, so I’m really pleased he’s committed his future to the club.”
COVENTRY EARNS IRELAND CALL UP
Conor Coventry has been selected by the Republic of Ireland for their World Cup qualifiers against Portugal (November 13) and Hungary (November 16).
The Charlton Athletic midfielder was a late call-up to the squad in the last international break.
This time around Coventry, who has been a mainstay of the Addicks’ midfield under Nathan Jones, has been picked without any dropouts from Heimir Hallgrimsson’s squad.
Ireland are third in Group F.
Coventry has been capped a record 28 times at U21 level and recently told our website that his “biggest dream” was to represent his country.
“Hopefully I can go to a major tournament with them as well,” he said.
“It’s definitely what I want and something I’ve worked so hard for. But I also know the only way I’m going to do that is my performances for Charlton every week.”
Coventry definitely delivered a strong display in his club match before the call-up was announced. He had the most touches and passes into the final third in Tuesday’s 1-0 victory against West Bromwich Albion.
Picture: Keith Gillard
SAVAGE MOVE FOR ISTED
Former Charlton Athletic goalkeeper Harry Isted has joined Forest Green Rovers for the remainder of the National League campaign.
The 28-year-old had his contract terminated by Burton Albion and immediately agreed terms with the Green, who are managed by former Leicester City midfielder Robbie Savage.
Isted made 23 appearances for the Addicks after joining in August 2023 after his contract at Luton Town expired. He signed for Burton 11 months later.
Isted made his Forest Green debut on Saturday as they won 3-2 at Aldershot Town.
Picture: Kyle Andrews
LEE OUT FOR THREE MONTHS
Elliot Lee was an absentee for Wrexham’s fixture against his former club Charlton Athletic on Saturday after undergoing knee surgery.
The 30-year-old, the son of former Addicks midfielder Robert Lee, spent the 2021-22 League One season on loan from Luton Town with the south Londoners.
He made a free agent move to Wrexham, in the National League at the time, in the summer of 2022 and has won three promotions.
Manager Phil Parkinson said: “He saw a specialist last week and they decided he needed an operation. He’ll be out for 12 weeks unfortunately.
“It gives him a chance to get that right. He tried to carry on with it but it got to a point where, last week, we sent him to get a second opinion and the specialist decided that, to get him right, he probably did need surgery, so he’s had that.”