Nigel Adkins is pleased with how his side have used the international break at the club’s Sparrows Lane training ground.
The Addicks return to league action on Saturday afternoon with a trip to the LNER Stadium to take on Lincoln City, looking to build on the 2-1 triumph at Fleetwood Town two weekends ago.
“I think we’ve utilised the time well because, with the international break, we haven’t had a game to prepare for as such,” explained the Addicks manager.
“So, we’ve been able to get some good training on the training ground and I’ve been pleased about that - the application of all the players and the staff.
“We now enter a good week where we’ve got a journey up to Lincoln, we’ve got Accrington at home on Tuesday and then the journey up to Sunderland,” he continued.
“So, three real challenging games, we’re on the road; I know we’re going to get great support with the fans travelling to get behind us - we really appreciate that.
“I’m really pleased with where we are at this moment in time in respect of the size of the squad and the players who are now available to play what we class as 90 minutes football,” added Adkins.
“Looking at Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday... we’ve had to navigate our way through the last period but we’re in a far stronger position now. And likewise, we’re growing and we’re building - that’s the important thing. There’s a lot of good work going on at the training ground to put ourselves in a position to try and win more games of football."
The Charlton manager provided an update on the Addicks’ returning quartet of internationals and long-term absentees Jake Forster-Caskey and Ryan Inniss, while sending his well wishes Ronnie Schwartz following the mutual termination of the Danish striker’s contract on Tuesday.
“[Chris Gunter, Harry Arter, Hady Ghandour and Conor Washington] have trained with the group today, so I’m pleased about that,” revealed the 56-year-old.
“We’ve just got Jake Forster-Caskey, who has been great; he’s been out today running on the grass so that’s a great step up for him. I’m delighted with that. And big Ryan Inniss, he’s progressing well. So, they’re our two long-term injuries if you like. Everybody else has been out training. We’ve got a big squad of players and they’re all very enthusiastic this morning.”
“We wish Ronnie [Schwartz] all the best,” said Adkins. “He’s a good guy, obviously it’s not worked out and obviously the club has come to a mutual agreement with Ronnie and hopefully he can move on to bigger and better things for himself.”