Dean Holden couldn’t fault new striker Alfie May’s display after the debutant scored in today’s 1-1 friendly with Leyton Orient in Marbella.
The League One duo meet on the opening day of the season in three weeks time and tested each other out in a game of four quarters, each lasting half an hour with two separate teams named for 60 minutes apiece.
May was named in the opening XI, lasting 45 minutes and breaking the deadlock just before the first interval with a shot on the turn.
Aaron Drinan equalised for the Os shortly afterwards to ensure the honours were ultimately shared in the Spanish sunshine, leaving the Addicks boss suitably impressed with May’s goal contribution afterwards.
Holden said: “His link up play was excellent. I think there was only one time when he lost it under pressure but he linked up, particularly from some more direct balls that came into him, and made himself a nuisance.
“He managed to retain the ball and find a pass.
“Then we’ve got runners and threats in behind – Payney (Jack Payne) as well in that second period showed his energy around the pitch.
“It was great for Alfie to score in his first game, although it was non-competitive at the moment.
“That is what we brought him in to do – one chance and he took it.”
Holden also provided an update on missing duo Ashley Maynard Brewer and Lloyd Jones who were not involved in today’s warm-up game.
The Charlton manager added: “Lloyd has only trained with us twice up until now on the back of the his injury that he had at the end of last season, so is not quite ready to come into the team.
“But he has trained well and he won’t be too far away.
“Ash picked up a minor illness and we decided it was the right thing to send him home, but we expect him to be ok next week.”
