Gary Haines reports
'New signing' Dale Stephens is in contention for a first-team return when Charlton travel to Exeter City on Saturday (3pm), according to boss Chris Powell.
The midfielder came through his first match action in midweek since ankle surgery when he captained a CAFC XI to Kent Senior Cup success at Margate.
Stephens safely negotiated 65 minutes at Hartsdown Park, and if he makes the squad for St James' Park at the weekend, Powell declared it will be like having a new signing in his ranks.
"Like everyone else, if he's fit he comes into contention," said Powell during his weekly Thursday afternoon press call.
"I can only chose 16 players [on the day], but I'm glad that he got some minutes under his belt - he needed that.
"I had him on the bench against Sheffield Wednesday, but he's been out for a number of weeks.
"It's almost like a new signing," he added. "He's come back pain free and long may that continue for him.
"He's a creative player, a player I do like and I just want him to be right and ready so that when he is called upon he does himself justice and adds to what we already have."
While Stephens is champing at the bit to return to first-team action, one man on the midfield periphery is Spaniard Mikel Alonso.
Powell reported that the summer signing has won his fitness battle, but is now facing a secondary challenge - to rise up the engine-room pecking order.
"We've got a long list of midfielders and there are plenty in front of him," admitted Chris.
"He is fit now, which is good for him. He hasn't been fit for a while and it's been really stop-start for him.
"So of course we are taking that day by day with regards to whether anything happens with regards to him going out on loan or staying.
"Like everyone else, he wants to play and Mikel needs to play.
"It's been a tough introduction to life here because of his injuries, and because of the form of other players he can't get in.
"Now he's in a good place fitness wise, but again, I'd like him to get some games and we will have to wait and see how that pans out; if anyone comes in to take him on loan or if things change here in regards to the number of players in that position.
"We have five centre midfielders in front of Mikel at the moment," Powell continued. "Danny Hollands, Bradley Pritchard, Dale Stephens, Darel Russell and Andy Hughes have all played a really prominent part for us.
"It's going to be quite difficult for him, but he has trained well and is a very likeable guy.
"He's fitted in really well, but football's football and you need to play."
Tickets are no longer on sale from The Valley. 762 places had been sold by midday on Thursday.
Tickets (except family tickets) will be available on the day, priced £21 adults, £15 over 60s and £7 U18s for the seats and £17 adults, £12 over 60s and students (with NUS card), and £5 U18s for the terracing. Family (one adult and one U14) tickets are £23 for the seats and £20 for the terrace.
The club has around 1,300 tickets at St James' Park, of which 260 seats are reserved for ambulant disabled, young families and over 60s. The remainder are terrace places, and only a handful of seats remained on Tuesday morning.
Ambulant disabled places are the standard prices (including a free helper), but the three wheelchair places have sold out.
The away ticket office is situated just up from the away turnstiles in St James Road. It is attached to the main St James Centre building and just set back from the road behind the read and white railings.
