Charlton Athletic: Nathan Jones' Dewsbury-Hall claim suggests new signing could have major impact | OneFootball

The Addicks signed midfielder Alex Gilbert on loan from Middlesbrough on transfer deadline day.

Charlton Athletic signed midfielder Alex Gilbert on loan from Middlesbrough on deadline day at the end of the January transfer window.

The attacking midfielder made seven substitute appearances in the Championship for Boro this term before making the temporary switch to The Valley, and he could be in line to make his Charlton debut when the Addicks host Stevenage in an important game in the League One play-off race tomorrow.

Nathan Jones' side currently sit just outside the top-six on goal difference, and have only lost one of their last 11 league games, so they will have confidence that they can build on their good form and push for the play-offs during the remainder of the campaign, especially after bringing Gilbert to the club until the end of the season.

The 23-year-old scored the winning goal for Middlesbrough against Hull City earlier this season after coming off the bench, with a well-taken first-time finish that showed the sort of quality Charlton would welcome, as they are slightly limited when it comes to creative options in midfield.

Addicks' supporters will hope that Gilbert can give them an edge in their pursuit of the play-offs, and considering Jones' comments during the summer transfer window, they should have faith that he will turn out to have been a shrewd acquisition.

Jones' summer statement should give Charlton fans optimism

Charlton boss Nathan Jones revealed that he would be trying to avoid signing players on loan as he shaped his squad for the 2024/25 season during the summer.

However, he did also admit that if the right player became available, then he would enter the loan market, as per London News Online.

"We want to develop our own players," said Jones.

"We have got good enough young players here and players here that we can develop our own assets - that's what I like doing.

"Very rarely one becomes available - for example at Luton we took Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall because he was a Premier League player but playing in the Championship, because we felt we could have him for a year.

"But unless someone is head and shoulders above us, I won't take a loan unless they will give us a real, real zest - a real quality."

Jones' outlook on loan signings means the fact he has brought Gilbert to the club suggests that he is a player who is 'head and shoulders' above League One, and he should be able to make an impact in the third tier between now and the end of the season.

Charlton supporters will hope that Jones has made the right call

While Jones' previous comments suggest he will only sign players on loan if they are very likely to improve the squad, some Charlton fans may want to wait until they see Gilbert for themselves and make their own verdict after Allan Campbell's loan spell in SE7 was unsuccessful earlier this season.

Campbell was signed on loan from Luton Town in the summer, but he failed to make an impact, and he has now joined Dundee United after his loan spell was cut short in January.

Addicks' supporters will hope that Jones has made the right call this time, and Gilbert can replicate the success of Dewsbury-Hall under the tutelage of the Welshman.

Charlton also signed defender Tom McIntyre on loan from Championship side Portsmouth on deadline day, so if he can also back up the suggestion that Jones only signs players on loan if they have 'real quality', then the Londoners should be well-prepared for the final few months of the season.