Feels like home

Akpo Sodje feels like he has come home after joining the Addicks on an emergency loan from Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

The deal for Sodje, brother of Charlton defender Sam, was completed on the morning of Saturday's clash with Milton Keynes Dons, and just hours later the forward was making his Addicks debut as a late substitute in the 5-1 win.

The youngest of the 10-strong Sodje clan, Akpo was born in Greenwich and admitted the opportunity to return south was too good to turn down.

"I'm just happy to be down here and playing for Charlton,” the 28-year-old told the official website. "I feel comfortable here; the boys have been really welcoming.

"Charlton is my hometown club and after living up north for so long, it feels good to be back. I'm going to enjoy every single minute of it while I'm here.

"I've been on the bench for something like the last 15 games with Wednesday and I want to be playing. As soon as Charlton came in to say they wanted me on loan, it was an easy decision for me to make."

Sodje has signed for an initial 28 days, and will stay at The Valley until at least the Southend United match on December 5th.

But with his contract with Wednesday expiring in the summer, Phil Parkinson was quick to stress that a permanent deal could be in the pipeline.

"We'll see how things go, but at the moment I'm just looking forward to the chance to play for Charlton and getting a few goals to keep us in that promotion spot," stated Sodje. "We're well in the race, especially after the 5-1 win over MK Dons on Saturday."

After learning of Charlton's interest, Akpo was quick to get the thoughts of his elder sibling on all things Charlton.

And he also got the lowdown on Valley life from Deon Burton, his former strike partner at Hillsborough.

"Talking to Sam played a big part," said Akpo. "He's enjoying it here and told me to come down. Deon was also an influence, as I played with him at Sheffield Wednesday."

In addition to the recent three-game suspension for Izale McLeod, Burton has been playing with a hernia injury and Leon McKenzie is gradually returning to full fitness, so a deal for Sodje was one Parkinson was keen to make.

And the powerful hitman hopes he can impress if given the chance, musing: "It was a good run out for me on Saturday, but hopefully I'll get a start. Whatever part the manager wants me to play, I'll play, though."

After starting his career with Queens Park Rangers, Sodje also represented Huddersfield Town, Darlington and Port Vale before signing for Championship side Wednesday.

The ace has made 41 appearances for the Owls, scoring nine times, but the star's focus is now on helping Charlton's promotion drive.

He added: "Charlton are a big club; not just in League One but in England, because they played for so many years in the Premier League.

"If I can help them push for promotion, I will do as I want my local club to be in as high a division as possible. We've got a good team here with some excellent players and this isn't a club that belongs in League One."