Ward-ed off

Sounds as if Jamie Ward’s short Charlton career will end when he goes back to Nottingham Forest this weekend. Lee Bowyer suggested it will be a question of finance, but reading between the lines I would think Bow wants someone more reliable and fitter.

Ward has only started six games and come on as a sub in an additional three. He’s never been fully fit and hasn’t played for a month. He does bring experience and a nice range of passing but generally when he has played he has generally been disappointing

I probably saw his best game at home to Bristol Rovers where he scored a lovely little lob from a Steer pass and when he was susbstituted late on he broke the Guinness Book of Records for time taking walking off a pitch!

Unless fitness can be guaranteed I suspect Bowyer will look elsewhere. New bodies are essential and Bowyer said today “I hope to bring in one or two quickly.”

That would not be Duchatelet’s style but we have some big games in January with most of those out injured expected to be sitting the month out. A new loan player who can hit the ground running would be essential, and not someone still trying to find match fitness. Bowyer also suggests bringing in another young player to an already overly loaded young squad is out of the question.