Nathan Jones is anticipating a tough start to the new campaign as Charlton welcome Derby County to The Valley for Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship opener (3pm BST).
The 2026/27 season got underway last weekend, as the Addicks breezed past Cheltenham Town, securing a 3-1 victory in the Carabao Cup at the EV Charger Points Stadium.
The gaffer was pleased with his side's performance in the first competitve fixture of the season.
“Last week was the start of the season," he said.
"It was a competitive fixture, a Carabao Cup game, we did slightly use it in the sense of a last pre-season game because we wanted to make sure everyone got minutes in the game. We wanted to win, and we wanted to progress, I was pleased with the mentality.”
“There are always upsets in the cup, this time last year we lost to Cambridge at the same stage, so the mentality had to be right. We did control the game, and we were outstanding in the first half. They [Cheltenham] had a spell in the second half where they tested us, and we had to get hold of that and handle it better which we did. We finished the game strongly and I was pleased.”
Nathan Jones' men will take on Spurs in the second round of the Carabao Cup. Following the regionalised draw, which took place on Monday evening, the Addicks will make their first ever visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The tie is set to take place on Wednesday August 26th (7.45pm BST).
“It’s a good draw, even more so for the fans, they were wondering which one of the fixtures they were going to get last year whether they were going to get West Ham or Spurs coming down to the Championship and now they are going to get them both in the space of four days."
"It doesn’t make my job any easier but it’s a chance for us to really test ourselves against a top club, top manager and a top team in Spurs.”
“These used to be regular fixtures for the club back in the day and that is what we want to get back to. We take these tests, they are part of the journey. We had Chelsea last year, albeit at a tricky time in the season for us so as I said, hopefully we can give a slightly better account of ourselves this time."
The Addicks boss provided an update on the fitness of his squad following pre-season injuries to Kayne Ramsay and Charlie Kelman.
“Kayne Ramsay and Charlie Kelman are the only two that are sidelined. All the others are pretty much in full training, Josh Edwards is back and in and around training and is a lot closer, it’s just those two [Ramsay and Kelman] that we are not able to count on at the moment," he explained.
"The squad is in a better place having had an extra week of training and a game. Some of them played at Fulham on Tuesday with the U21s, so we are in a better place.”
Timothy Ouma was the Addicks' latest summer recruit, having signed on a season-long loan from Slavia Prague.
“Timothy [Ouma] won’t feature straight away but I hope he has a massive impact on our squad and on our team," the gaffer said.
“We have tracked him, we have wanted him, it has taken a long time to get him over here. When you sign foreign players these things take a while with visa issues, the more far afield they are the more difficult it is at times. We do extensive medicals with them coming from far afield, we need to build him up and get him ready.”
A busy summer window has seen seven summer signings walk through the door at Sparrows Lane, as well as a few departures.
“We want to add one more player to the squad, and we have one or two that need game time that will go out," Jones outlined.
"If we get this final piece of the puzzle, then I think we have had an unbelievable window. We have been patient, we have worked tirelessly and when you are competing with monsters of clubs that have the resources and finance to pluck anything they want within reason, we have had to bide our time.”
“I am really pleased with the business we have done and the patience we have shown. We have brought an extensive amount of money in as well and we have managed to fend off a few things.
"Hopefully soon we will be able to announce a few things and people can see how hard we have worked.”
The Addicks host Derby County in their Sky Bet Championship opener this weekend.
“It has been in recent years; we have enjoyed our opening home games. Derby almost got to the play-offs last season, they have had a big shift in recent years, a bit like Hull have. They almost replicated that being really under pressure the year before and then challenging for the play-offs. They have strengthened over the summer, they have an experienced manager and an experienced team and it will be a very difficult game, but it will be a Championship game so of course it is going to be difficult.”
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