Charlton Athletic: Nathan Jones urged to make Matty Godden call ahead of Stevenage clash | OneFootball

FLW's Charlton Athletic fan pundit has given his view on who should start up front against Stevenage this weekend.

This article is part of Football League World’s 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

It has been an excellent start to the season for Charlton Athletic in League One.

The Addicks endured an incredibly disappointing campaign last season, and they looked to be in serious relegation danger at one stage, but Nathan Jones led them to safety after his arrival in February.

After a big summer rebuild that saw 13 new signings join the club, the positive form has continued into the new season, and the Addicks are among the early promotion contenders.

Charlton suffered their second league defeat of the season as they were beaten 2-1 by Blackpool at The Valley on Saturday, but they are still fourth in the table, just three points behind leaders Wrexham and second-placed Birmingham City.

The Addicks are back in action when they make the trip to face 15th-placed Stevenage at the Lamex Stadium on Saturday, and Jones is facing a dilemma over who to start up front.

Charlton Athletic: Nathan Jones told to start Matty Godden against Stevenage

After the departure of top scorer Alfie May - who netted 27 goals in 50 games last season - to Birmingham City in the summer, Jones has been trying to find the right strike partnership in the early stages of the season.

Gassan Ahadme has started all seven league games this campaign after his summer move from Ipswich Town, but he has only found the back of the net once for Charlton so far.

Daniel Kanu started alongside Ahadme against Blackpool last time out, but FLW's Charlton Athletic fan pundit Ben Fleming would like to see Matty Godden come into the team against Stevenage this weekend.

"I'd probably drop one of Kanu or Ahadme," Fleming told Football League World.

"Clearly Nathan Jones has put a lot of faith in Ahadme and sees him as his target man, but he's not necessarily hit the ground running.

"He got that pretty lucky goal a few weeks back and he's not exactly shown that he's got the touches around the box and the lethal finishing that we might need.

"It's difficult because Matty Godden isn't that physical presence, and Miles Leaburn is still working his way back to full fitness, but I think I'd probably like to see Godden up there with Ahadme.

"Perhaps even Godden and Kanu, and we could look to play the ball a bit more on the floor and use Godden's physicality because he's still a physical player.

"That would be the one change I'd make, I'm not sure Ahadme and Kanu are necessarily the two that I'd go with up top."

Matty Godden could help to fill Alfie May void for Charlton Athletic

It was a bold decision from Jones to allow May to leave Charlton this summer, and it has left his side a little short on goals.

The Addicks have only scored seven league goals this season, which is the fewest of any team in the top half of the table, and while Jones has kept faith with Ahadme so far, it seems unlikely he will be the prolific goalscorer his side desperately need.

Miles Leaburn's imminent return from injury will significantly strengthen Charlton's front line, but the game against Stevenage will come too soon for him to start, and it is difficult to disagree with Ben that Godden deserves an opportunity on Saturday.

Given that both sides have conceded just five league goals this season, it could be a tight game against Alex Revell's men, and that means it is even more essential that Jones makes the right selection up front.