Charlton Athletic have suffered a fresh injury setback ahead of their return to League One action on Good Friday…
What’s the latest?
According to LondonNewsOnline, the Addicks will make the trip to Doncaster Rovers without the services of in-form striker Conor Washington.
The 28-year-old forward came off injured just five minutes into Nigel Adkins’s first game in charge, a 2-2 draw with AFC Wimbledon, before the international break.
He did not go away with Northern Ireland as a result, and remained at The Valley for treatment on the hamstring problem.
“Conor is not going to be available for selection,” revealed Adkins. “We’ll miss the Easter programme but he is responding as well as he can. It will be a big miss.”
Will Washington be a big miss this Easter weekend?
Yes, 100%
No way!
Bad news
A big miss he will be, indeed.
Washington is currently the second top-scorer in the Addicks squad, having bagged 11 goals in 32 appearances in League One this campaign. Only makeshift centre-forward Chuks Aneke has scored more, as per WhoScored.
It was rather telling that Adkins started both Washington and Jayden Stockley over the leading talisman in his first starting XI, as both were deployed up top in a 4-4-2 formation.
And it’s easy to see why.
The 28-year-old offers more than just goals to this Charlton side. Before his departure, ex-Addicks boss Lee Bowyer heaped praise on his frontman, telling the club’s official website:
“Conor is so important. Jayden [Stockley] and Chuks Aneke’s mobility isn’t natural to them. Conor does the dirty work for them, running into channels in between the centre-halves. He works so hard for the team, I’m so pleased for him. He does a lot of unselfish work and got his reward tonight.”
Washington chips in with an average of 0.8 dribbles per game, a figure well above the aforementioned duo, via WhoScored, so Bowyer’s words are certainly true and could provide a clue into why Adkins preferred his inclusion last time out.
It’ll be a big blow to not have the £518k-rated ace available for selection against a fellow side competing for promotion.
AND in other news, Gallen heading for big Charlton mistake over “unplayable” attacker…