CHARLTON Athletic assistant manager Paul Hart said it was “possible” a trio of injured players could be back for this Saturday’s League One game against Barnsley at The Valley.
Kayne Ramsay and Lloyd Jones have been out since February and March, respectively, while Connor Wickham has played just once since joining on a free transfer last month.
The Addicks are on a ten-game unbeaten run, their longest in three years. Charlton are chasing a top-half finish after seemingly being set for a relegation battle when manager Nathan Jones took over in February.
The Tykes are closing in on a place in the play-offs, as they have a seven-point advantage over seventh-place Oxford United having played a game fewer.
Hart was on pre-match press conference duty with Jones away to deal with a family matter.
Charlton have drawn seven of those ten games, with Jones feeling they have been unlucky not to have turned some of them into wins.
“I think everyone can see that in some of the games we could have picked up some more points,” Hart agreed. “When we came in we were precariously placed, we dealt as much with the basics, keeping the ball away from the net and getting results. In that respect we’re not disappointed.
“We’ve got a great bunch of lads who have really put their lot in over the last eight weeks. We’ve dug out results, we’ve played well and got results. We’ve also played well and not got the results that we’ve deserved in terms of wins instead of draws.
“When you’ve got a group of players that are giving their all, that is a massive head start on anybody. We’re very pleased with that. We have to round off the edges here and there. You can’t do everything overnight.”
Charlton currently have eight academy players in the senior squad, with several more youngsters having made their senior debuts.
Tomorrow is the club’s annual academy and Valley Gold day. Hart was Charlton’s academy director from 2011 to 2014.
He said: “I’m very proud to have worked in that department for two or three years. Fortunately, some of my friends are still here from that time. We realised that we had a recruitment area, I probably shouldn’t be saying this, that was very lucrative in terms of the quality of youngsters coming through.
“The club has carried on. We had a history of developing young players, and that history has been cemented and is moving forward. I’m very excited to see these young players coming on. I’m a developer, overall. I want our kids to come through and get into the first team, no question.
“There is a pathway. The room will be made for those that are good enough.”
On team news at the weekend in relation to Ramsay, Jones and Wickham, Hart said: “They have been going through a strict regime. It’s possible. We’re cautious, but it is possible.”
