Charlton Athletic

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Addicks move for Racon

Skysports.com understands that Charlton have agreed a deal for Therry Racon.

The 23-year-old began his career with Marseille, but after just one first-team game at the Stade Velodrome he departed.

He enjoyed a season with Lorient before Guingamp snapped him up in 2005.

Now Charlton have agreed terms with Guingamp for the highly-rated midfielder.

Charlton could seal a deal before the weekend, but it is unlikely to be in time for Racon to make his debut in the opening game of the season against Scunthorpe.

Source: Skysports

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Charlton v Scunthorpe Preview

Alan Pardew's Charlton host Scunthorpe on Saturday with The Addicks likely to include a number of new faces in their side.

Nicky Weaver and Izale McLeod are just two players expected to make their Charlton debuts.

But China international Zheng Zhi is unlikely to feature and striker Luke Varney is expected to sit out the match with an ankle injury.

Scunthorpe midfielder Matt Sparrow has been included in Nigel Adkin's squad, despite missing all of The Iron's pre-season friendlies.

Ian Morris (knee) and Kelly Youga (ineligible) are the only men missing from the Scunthorpe squad.

Skysports

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Charlton - Scunthorpe 1-1 (0-0). C: Bent (62). S: Iriekpen (69).

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Carling Cup 1rst round:

Swindon 0 - 2 Charlton
C: Ambrose (52), Reid (Pen 63)

Charlton:
Nicky Weaver
Chris Powell
Madjid Bougherra
Jonathan Fortune
Jose Vitor Semedo
Yassin Moutaouakil
Andy Reid *
Darren Ambrose
Lloyd Sam
Marcus Bent **
Izale McLeod ***

Subs:
Dean Sinclair (78) *
Chris Iwelumo (77) **
Chris Dickson (81) ***

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Stoke v Charlton Preview

Potters captain Danny Higginbotham will be given until the last possible minute to prove his fitness after being forced out of the midweek defeat at Rochdale with an ankle injury.

Steve Simonsen will return in place of Russell Hoult in goal after being rested at Spotland, and there could also be recalls for Dominic Matteo and Ricardo Fuller.

Charlton striker Luke Varney (ankle) is out so Izale McLeod, Marcus Bent and Chris Iwelumo are challenging for places up front.

Jerome Thomas is fit again, while Zheng Zhi and Therry Racon are available.

Skysports

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Charlton manager Alan Pardew insists his team are "never going to play a Stoke type of game" and will play attractive football this season.

The Addicks were held to a 1-1 draw by Scunthorpe on the opening day before going down 2-1 at Stoke, but Pardew insists his players are learning quickly and will improve as the season goes on.

"The big bonus of the season so far is that technically, in terms of the football we have played, we have been good," he told the club's official website.

"I am never going to play a Stoke type of game. I mean no disrespect to the managers who do that, because you need to get results the best way you think you can, but I've got a team to play their way out of this division before and I will attempt to do that again.

"Percentage football is a big factor in the Championship and we need to grow in that department. We need to be big enough and strong enough to deal with it, and we obviously weren't on Saturday.

"Having said that, I think we will be better armed for the future after that experience. We've learned a lot and I'm not looking for excuses or worrying about the situation, all I'm looking for is solutions."

Pardew is expecting a different challenge from Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday as he sends his Addicks team out in search of their first victory of the season.

"Sheffield Wednesday are a different type of team, and it will be a different type of game," he added.

"The Championship throws up these radically different scenarios on a regular basis. It's very different to the Premier League in terms of the contrasts between opposing clubs and we need to adjust quickly.

"I'm not saying our game and style of play will be better suited to Sheffield Wednesday, I don't know. But we will certainly have to be aware we need to be stronger.

"Teams may look at us and think we will be weak at set plays, so we have to turn that into a strength, and I believe we have the players in the squad to do exactly that."

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Charlton new boy Yassin Moutaouakil faces a spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury. The young Frenchman picked up the injury in last weekend's defeat to Stoke and scans have confirmed the full extent of the injury. Addicks boss Alan Pardew believes the full-back will be out of action for at least a month.

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Charlton v Sheffield Wednesday match preview

Charlton striker Svetoslav Todorov is available again following a hamstring niggle while fellow forward Luke Varney (ankle) will not return to full training until next week.

Alan Pardew will be forced to make a change at right-back as the Addicks look for their first win of the season with Yassin Moutaouakil out for five weeks with damaged ankle ligaments.

Owls boss Brian Laws is hoping for a triple boost with Steve Watson (stomach muscle), Marcus Tudgay (shoulder) and Glenn Whelan (groin) back in training and in contention.

But striker Francis Jeffers will not feature against his former club at The Valley as he continues to struggle with a calf strain.

Skysports

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Charlton v Stockport Carling cup match preview

Charlton's Ben Thatcher is doubtful after tweaking his knee ligaments at the weekend so veteran Chris Powell looks likely to slot in at the back.

Portuguese youngster Jose Semedo could fill in for Madjid Bougherra if the defender does not recover from a knock he picked up against Sheffield Wednesday.

Striker Liam Dickinson and midfielder David Poole could be out for Stockport after both picked up knocks on Saturday.

As a precaution Jim Gannon has called Adam Proudlock and Adam Griffin into the squad in case Poole and Dickinson fall short of fitness.

Skysports

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Charlton 4 Stockport 3

Charlton appeared to be breezing past Stockport when they opened up a 2-0 lead at half-time thanks to Svetoslav Todorov (35) and a Zheng Zhi penalty. But their passage to the next round was anything but straightforward as Stockport came storming back through Adam Proudlock (54), Anthony Elding (62) and Dominic Blizzard (69). The Addicks were not to be denied, however, and after Lloyd Sam had levelled it up at 3-3 in the 74th minute, Patrick McCarthy hit the winner moments from time.

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Charlton swoop for duo

Charlton Athletic are closing on the double loan capture of Sam Sodje and Danny Mills.

The defensive duo are both finalising moves to The Valley after becoming surplus to requirements at their respective clubs.

Reading centre-half Sodje appeared to be on his way to Sheffield Wednesday, with Owls boss Brian Laws hopeful of agreeing a deal.

But Reading have now confirmed that the former Brentford stopper is heading to Charlton on a season-long loan.

"There's creeping movement on that one, I would say," Royals boss Steve Coppell told the club's official website regarding Sodje. "Inevitably there will be a last minute flurry of activity.

"Something will happen I think, but it might be a loan, not permanent."

In addition to Sodje, Charlton are also near to agreeing a deal to bring Manchester City full-back Mills back to the club.

Mills has been told he can leave City by his former England coach Sven Goran Eriksson and is set to link up with The Addicks until January.

The 30-year-old made 51 appearances during his first spell with Charlton before leaving for Leeds United in 1999.

Skysports

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Amdy Faye have signed a one-year loan deal with Glasgow Rangers.

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Marcus Bent leaves Charlton for Premiership football with Wigan. He has sign a season-long loan deal at the JJB Stadium.

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Charlton have completed the signing of Sam Sodje from Reading. Sodje has agreed a year-long loan with The Addicks.