Charlton Athletic boss Nathan Jones has given fans a triple lift by announcing that Kayne Ramsey, Lloyd Jones, and Chuks Aneke are all close to returning to play.
Ramsay, a defender, joined the Addicks from League Two side Harrogate Town at the end of January but has only played against Lincoln City and Derby County thus far due to hamstring injury.
Jones, a fellow defender who joined from Cambridge United last summer, has played 32 games this season. He has not appeared since the victory over Cheltenham Town earlier this month, however.
Finally, striker Aneke has participated in only 10 League One games this season, scoring one goal and assisting twice. He has not been seen since the end of February.
Charlton’s penultimate meeting before the international break ended in a 1-1 draw with relegation hopefuls Fleetwood Town, which was a somewhat unpleasant surprise. The team will be eager to put this right away against Exeter City on Good Friday.
Speaking on the club’s official website, head coach Jones was ebullient about the trio’s return:
“They’re all much closer than what they were before the break, so the squad’s in a much healthier position.”
“What we’ve been able to do is rest a few, bring one or two back, and then put some real good work into the players, which was critical, especially in the early stages.”
“We’ve been here for seven weeks so to be able to have two free weeks to work with them… hopefully we see the fruition of that.”
Charlton Athletic have sold out their allocation for tomorrow’s game against Exeter City, prompting Jones to thank the fans for their support while he has been in charge.
“The crowds are fantastic.
“They bring such positive energy and are simply magnificent.” This will be my tenth game, and there are seven away games! They have been boisterous at every game and have motivated the players. We’ve come to expect it, but it’s not something we take for granted.”
Jones’ side faces a difficult double-header, travelling to St James Park tomorrow and hosting play-off contenders Stevenage on Easter Monday.
Writer’s perspective
The trio have returned at the perfect time for Jones and Charlton Athletic; with only seven games left, the Addicks will need all of their strength to finish the season on a high note.
The new manager has been a breath of fresh air since taking over, adding experienced players such as Kazenga Lualua and Connor Wickham. The London club will have a busy summer as they prepare for the next season.
