Pardew concentrating on Cardiff

Charlton's players are in buoyant mood ahead of their trip to Cardiff City on Saturday (3pm), according to boss Alan Pardew.

The Addicks went into the international break on the back of a 2-1 win over Ipswich Town at The Valley - a result that ended a run of two straight defeats for Pardew's side.

Since then, Charlton have received an 'indicative offer' from Dubai-based Zabeel Investments, but with Pardew having to adhere to a confidentially agreement signed by all parties, the Addicks boss is concentrating on matters on the pitch.

"The mood's pretty good, the players are buoyant,” Pardew said. "We got a good result against Ipswich so hopefully we can go to Cardiff and put in another good performance on the back of that.

"We've been focusing on an important game for us. We didn't have too many go away for international duty, which is a good thing, so we've worked hard on the training ground.

"We find ourselves outside the top 10 and that's where we want to get in the next few weeks as we have a run of five or six games coming up.

"Our away form has been indifferent in my view this season, so we need to put in a solid performance as we have on two or three occasions. This is a very important game, and if we get a win, well be in the top 10 and that's where we need to be."

The international break came at a good time for Pardew, who admitted he would have been without Nicky Bailey and Svetoslav Todorov had there been a game last weekend.

Bailey limped out of the Ipswich clash with a hamstring problem shortly after opening the scoring but is now fit, while Todorov also picked up a knock.

Zheng Zhi has since been sidelined for at least eight weeks with a foot problem and, with two home games against Bristol City and Burnley at The Valley next week, it remains to be seen whether Todorov - out for almost a year with a knee injury - will feature against the Bluebirds.

"Bailey had a knock and wouldn't have played at the weekend if we'd had a game, while Todorov only trained on Thursday," said Pardew.

"It's taken Toddy a while to come back, and I don't think he's completely there yet, so we have to protect him. We have Cardiff coming up and then two home games and I don't think he'll play in all three.

"He's very important to us. His ability to conjure a clever pass is invaluable. He has that quality that takes us up a level. Last year was a massive blow when we lost him, but we think and hope that he will be as good as he was.

"So we're not going to moan about the international break," continued Pardew. "It was a good win for us to go into the break with, as we really needed to address some of the games that we'd had before the Ipswich one."

Matt Holland is likely to take Zheng's place and return to Pardew's starting XI at Cardiff, while Jose Semedo is pushing Martin Cranie for the right-back spot after the Portuguese impressed as a second-half substitute against Ipswich.

Jose Semedo is pushing Martin Cranie for the right-back spot at Cardiff

"Semedo came on in an enforced substitution as Cranie had taken a knock," revealed Pardew. "He did make a difference and that's good for me to have that option as Cranie is now fit. But I haven't taken the decision on who will play yet."

Izale McLeod will travel with the squad after scoring for the reserves on his comeback from a knee injury on Monday, and Darren Ambrose is set to make his third successive start after fighting his way back to fitness following a hip operation last April.

The midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season, but Pardew insists that has not affected the mindset of the former Newcastle United man.

Said Pardew: "Darren Ambrose is totally focused this year and his performance against Ipswich showed that.

"It's strange, but I think there are sides to his game which don't endear him to the fans. I've talked about that with him and we're trying to address that.

"I'm not going to go into details, but I hope the fans see a product on the pitch which is more palatable for them as his technical ability is without question."

Barring a meeting in the FA Cup, Charlton's trip to Ninian Park will be their last, with the Bluebirds moving to a new purpose-built stadium next season.

It's a ground at which Pardew has a decent record, including a 2-0 victory for the Addicks last season through goals from Holland and Andy Reid from the penalty spot.

Cardiff, though, have lost just once in the league so far this season, and Pardew said: "It's always difficult going to Ninian Park, they're a good side this year and they've only lost one game, which is a fine record.

"It's a tough place to go, no quarter is given by the fans, the players or the staff there, and you have to really earn the right to win there. I have won there on two or three occasions, so hopefully I'll do it again.

"I have a lot of respect for their manager Dave Jones. He was under a lot of pressure last season but came through it and his side looks stronger this year."