Ben Garner provides significant update regarding Charlton Athletic 29-year-old | OneFootball

Chuks Aneke has not been involved for Charlton Athletic this season, or much at all since returning from Birmingham City in January, due to injury.

The Addicks have had to rely on Miles Leaburn to provide competition with Jayden Stockley at the top of the pitch as a result, and Aneke’s return should give the rest of the squad a boost.

It is unlikely that the former Milton Keynes Dons man will be able to start games on a regular basis, but the 29-year-old does give Ben Garner a dangerous option from the bench.

Garner had the following update in his pre-match press conference this afternoon.

He said: “Chuks is close now.

“He returned to full training for the first time yesterday which was great.

“There’s been no reaction and we’ll see how he is this morning.

“My hope is that he can be involved against Exeter on Tuesday night.

“He has another two or three days and if he comes through training with no issues then he will be back in the squad on Tuesday hopefully.”

The Addicks are unbeaten at The Valley so far this season and will be expected to pick up three points against Exeter City, especially with the addition of Aneke from the bench.

The Verdict

Quiz: Did Charlton Athletic win, draw or lose the last time they played at these 18 stadiums?

1 of 17

Memorial Stadium

1-0 W 0-0 D 2-1 W 1-0 L

Jayden Stockley has scored just one goal from open play so far this season, a close range header last time out in the league against Oxford United, and the target man does not suit Garner’s possession-based style of play.

Leaburn emerged in pre-season after an impressive 2021/22 campaign in becoming a regular for the U21 side.

Aneke played as a number ten at times in pre-season, but Garner will need to manage his minutes with fitness being a huge issue ever since the forward arrived from MK Dons in the summer of 2019.

When fully firing Aneke is amongst the best strikers in the division but is rarely fit enough to start games.