CHARLTON boss Michael Appleton says the club are pulling out all the stops to bring a new striker into SE7.
The Addicks have been linked with Peterborough’s Jonson Clarke-Harris, who boasts an almost one goal in every two games ratio for Posh since joining from Bristol Rovers in 2020.
With leading scorer Alfie May still injured, Appleton selected Daniel Kanu to lead the line in today’s 3-3 draw at Port Vale.
Kanu scored Charlton’s second as the Addicks led three times, the opener coming from Corey Blackett-Taylor and the final strike from Tyreece Campbell.
Although pleased with Kanu’s efforts, Appleton didn’t deny when asked by Charlton TV that today’s game at Vale Park demonstrates why his side ideally need to prioritise a new attacker.
“Of course it does,” he replied.
“It was blatant to see today.
“To be fair to DK (Daniel Kanu), like I say he gave everything he could but it is clear obviously in that first half where you look at the opposition and they’ve got an experienced big striker up there.
“He was an outlet for them. He played with his back to goal at times and what he does is he gives them a different sort of dimension.
“That’s what we’ve been missing. We don’t have to hide about it.
“It is what it is, we are all aware of it so if we can get one in, fantastic – it will help us, it will make us better, it will give us a focal point.
“I know we are working really hard behind the scenes to try and make that happen at the minute.”
Charlton’s injury depleted side again conceded a late goal when Gavin Massey rescued a 92nd minute point for the hosts.
It has become an all too familiar feature of the Addicks’ form in recent weeks to drop points at the death, although Appleton preferred to concentrate on the positives afterwards.
He explained: “I’m very, very proud of them today and that was the message to them in the dressing room afterwards.
“After three defeats, and the way that we’ve lost those games as well as late on as we have, it is sort of taking that disappointment for us to put up a spirited performance like we did today.
“Again I’ve got to be pleased with that.
“They are a group that never know when they are dead. They keep getting up.”
Appleton added: “There was a few times where they had us under pressure in that second half.
“In the early parts they had a spell of about five minutes where there was a lot of corners and free-kicks coming into our box and they defended really manfully.
“That’s the frustration with the group at the minute – the defending at times where you think ‘That’s outstanding defending. Well done. Great’.
“And then we are sort of killing ourselves and letting ourselves down a little bit with maybe a couple of the goals we conceded today.”
