Charlton’s loss is Latics’ gain as Dickov gets Kuqi signature

HAD events twisted only slightly across the close-season, a different Athletic could have been planning to cater for the threat of Shefki Kuqi this weekend.

The 35-year-old striker was training with Crystal Palace when feelers were put out to Charlton to find out if they would be interested in bringing in the striker during the summer.

The Addicks chose to go in a different direction — and, thanks to the intervention of Paul Dickov, the rest is history.

It may or may not provide Kuqi, such a driven character in any case, with extra incentive to add to his 13 goals accumulated so far this season at The Valley. And this could be a good time to face Chris Powell's men. Though a blistering start to the season has seen them take npower League One by storm, a sequence of eight straight wins was broken by a stalemate at Walsall at the weekend.

Athletic will certainly not be taking Charlton lightly, though.

The Addicks recently put an end to Huddersfield Town's unbeaten 43-game run and combine a solid defence — Michael Morrison is the reigning League One player of the month — with varied attacking options.

These include dangerous winger Danny Green and livewire forward Bradley Wright-Phillips, who has 14 goals so far this term.

Highly-rated ex-Athletic midfielder Dale Stephens is out of action for another month following ankle surgery.

He will de disappointed to miss out on the chance to play against his former club on Saturday.

And a second former player at Boundary Park, Cedric Evina, has found the going too tough trying to displace first-choice left-back Rhoys Wiggins.