Charlton have 2024/25 secret weapon in player Nathan Jones described as a "different specimen": View | OneFootball

Charlton Athletic have had an extremely underwhelming season in League One, registering their lowest league finish since 1926, but striker Chuks Aneke could be a cause for optimism going into next term.

Former Arsenal youngster Aneke re-joined the Addicks in January 2022, just half a season after he had left The Valley to link up with his former boss Lee Bowyer at Birmingham City.

He has struggled with injuries that have seen him sidelined for large parts of his latest spell in SE7. The forward has started just seven games during this period, scoring seven goals.

When people think of the most effective strikers in League One, their minds will tend to go to the likes of Colby Bishop, Alfie May, and Devante Cole. However, Charlton fans will tell you that a fully fit Aneke is right up there with those names as one of the very best strikers in the division when it comes to having an impact on games.

Aneke's impact is undeniable

This season, Charlton have seriously struggled for form and finished 16th in the League One table. They managed just 11 wins all season, and suffered a 1-0 defeat during Saturday's final-day clash with Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park.

Aneke's injury problems have limited him to featuring in just 17 games all season. In those 17 games, the Addicks have accumulated 26 points, just under half of the 53 points that they won over the course of the campaign. Having contributed to five wins and 11 draws, Aneke tasted defeat for the first time this season against the Chairboys on Saturday.

Due to the risk of injury when he starts matches, Aneke has been solely utilised as an impact substitute by manager Nathan Jones since his arrival in February, who usually brings him on around the 60-minute mark. In the only two games that he has started this season, Charlton picked up their two most comprehensive victories - a 4-1 triumph over Exeter City and a 4-0 win against Reading.

Following Charlton's 2-2 draw with Wigan Athletic earlier this month, Aneke told the club's official X account that he will not let his injury setbacks affect him.

He said: "I've had quite a difficult season. Everyone knows I've been struggling with injuries, but credit to me, I just keep coming back, and I'm going to keep coming back."

Keeping Aneke fit will be crucial for Charlton next season

Aneke has one year left on the contract he signed when he re-joined the club and with his injury record no doubt putting off any potential suitors, he will most likely remain at The Valley for the 2024/25 campaign.

Despite being on the pitch for just 517 minutes in League One this season, Aneke has managed to register two goals and two assists. However, it is his physical presence, aerial prowess, and ability to bring others into play that make him such a fearsome proposition for any defence in the division.

Aneke displayed his goalscoring capability the only time he managed to feature on a regular basis in a League One season for Charlton. During the 2020/21 campaign, Aneke made 38 appearances and scored a goal every 102 minutes on his way to registering 15 goals in the league that season.

Jones has spoken about how important it is that he is cautious with Aneke, with the Charlton boss telling London News Online: "We can never rush anything with Chuks because he's a different specimen to other people. We have to be careful."

Aneke has appeared in eleven of the last 15 games in League One, so everyone associated with Charlton will be hoping that a solution has been found to maximise his availability going into next season. If the striker can stay fit for the majority of the season, it will greatly increase the likelihood of it being a successful one for the Addicks.