Football League World
·30 March 2022
Football League World
·30 March 2022
Tottenham Hotspur are “extremely dissatified” by Charlton Athletic’s management of Nile John, according to Football Insider.
The 19-year-old arrived on loan from Spurs towards the back end of the January transfer window until the end of the season but has not been trusted with a single senior minute.
The Addicks have a strong link to Spurs due to Chris Powell’s position in their youth setup, tarnishing that trust and relationship would definitely be counter-productive moving forwards.
Mason Burstow’s last minute transfer and subsequent loan back from Chelsea meant that Charlton had six players on loan from English clubs when the window shut.
Only five can be selected in a matchday squad and truth be told, John probably would not have been acquired if the club knew what was going to happen with Burstow and that they would end up with six players on loan.
It was a surprise move considering how many options Johnnie Jackson has in central midfield.
George Dobson, Alex Gilbey and Elliot Lee has been the most common trio since Jackson took the reins in late October, with Albie Morgan and marquee January signing Scott Fraser in the mix.
Jake Forster-Caskey coming back from injury also makes it tougher for John to convince Jackson to give him an opportunity, some of the blame for the failure of the loan move has to be taken by both parties.
The Verdict
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John has been an unused substitute four times at Charlton and has played more regularly for the club’s U23 side.
One angle that possibly could have been explored is John seeing minutes in another position, at 19 it is very rare that someone’s specialist positioned is completely nailed down and there could have been opportunities for John to stake a claim at right wing back.
The main requirement in the position is endeavour, the work rate to join in attacks and help out defensively, Adam Matthews has been a regular in the position of late but has a contract expiring in the summer, John’s youthful energy could have at least been a rotation option to slot in on the right side of the Addicks’ midfield five, with very little left to play for in League One.