Charlton Athletic’s match at Peterborough next weekend is set to go ahead with Nathan Jones slamming the procedures behind international call-ups.
Neither club has had enough players selected by their respective countries to give the option of a fixture being postponed.
But Charlton could still be depleted for the fixture if Conor Coventry and Thierry Small, on standby for Republic of Ireland and England Elite, get a late call.
And there would be no chance that the Addicks could then get the game rearranged.
Kaheim Dixon has been named in Jamaica’s squad for their Gold Cup qualifiers but Karoy Anderson has not been picked.
“We’re hoping there are no late, silly call-ups,” said Addicks boss Jones. “The rules are very handicapping, because you can get put on a standby list, which is unfair, and then get called up late. So effectively we can have 10 on standby and then they can get called up Friday night and we lose 10 players.
“Nothing surprises me with the rules of football now. There is zero common sense around anyone making decisions on football.”
Charlton were without Middlesbrough loanee Alex Gilbert (illness) and Josh Edwards (groin) for today’s 2-1 win over Wigan.
Tennai Watson came in for Edwards with Luke Berry replacing Gilbert.
“Gilbert was overnight so it was nothing serious,” said Jones.
“Edwards was just a minor thing. To be fair to him, the shifts he puts in – the energy, amount he has played and what he does do during games – he needed a rest anyway. So this is an enforced rest. God-willing it won’t be anything significant.
“We have managed to navigate that.
“We keep preaching it is a squad game and if they don’t realise that or don’t believe it then they can see it now.
“He (Watson) was excellent. We have Monday and Thursday sessions at the minute because the starters don’t train usually – or at least hard – on those days. All those that don’t play, train hard Mondays and Thursdays. If they take short cuts or out and about, high fiving and all that malarkey, then when they come in they are not ready.
“You are only as strong as your weakest link. So people who are not regular starters at the moment, if they don’t prepare and train hard – not conditioned to come in and play like we play – then they will let them down. Thankfully we have got a stellar group who do that.”
PICTURES: KYLE ANDREWS
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