With Charlton having kept hold of the majority of their attacking threats from the 2020/21 campaign – despite the loss of Chuks Aneke to Birmingham City, there was plenty of room for optimism heading into the season.
Although results meaning a change of manager was required before the midway point of the season, players like Jayden Stockley and Conor Washington have maintained their goalscoring prowess for the Addicks this term. Norwich City loanee Akin Famewo has continued his good form at the back, while Elliot Lee – an attacker on loan from Luton Town, has also been a key man for Johnnie Jackson since he took over from Nigel Adkins as manager. Goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray has made 37 starts since his summer move from Portsmouth, keeping 12 clean sheets in the process.
Akin Famewo
A centre-back on loan to Charlton from Premier League side Norwich City, Famewo is currently enjoying his second loan spell with the club after impressing at the Valley last season. Famewo began his professional career at Luton Town in 2016, making his debut for the club in August 2019, coming on as a substitute in a win over Newport County. In all, he would make six league appearances for the club. He was loaned to Grimsby Town during the 2018/19 season, featuring in 12 games. In 2019, the Lewisham-born defender made his move to Norwich City. In January 2020, he was loaned to Scottish Premiership side St. Mirren, staying with the club until the conclusion of the 2019/20 season. Famewo has appeared in 32 games so far this season, starting in 31 of those contests. He scored his first professional goal in the 3-2 win over AFC Wimbledon back in February.
Elliot Lee
Attacking midfielder Lee is on loan to the Addicks from Sky Bet Championship side Luton Town. The son of former Newcastle United midfielder Rob, Lee started his professional career with West Ham United, staying at the club from 2012 through to 2016. He played two first team games for the Hammers, including coming on as a substitute in a 1-0 loss to Manchester United in an Emirates FA Cup replay at Old Trafford in January 2013. While at West Ham, Lee spent time on loan with the likes of Colchester United, Southend United, Luton Town and Blackpool.
He spent a year with Barnsley before joining Luton on a permanent deal in 2017. He played a key role in the Hatters winning promotion to the Championship in the 2018/19 campaign. Lee spent last season out on loan at Oxford United, and joined the Addicks in the summer in a similar arrangement. He scored the opener in the reverse fixture between Charlton and Rovers earlier this season.
Conor Washington
Northern Ireland international Washington started his career with Non League St. Ives Town, scoring 54 goals in 84 appearances before signing for Newport County.
He has continued to score consistently in the EFL and impressed during two seasons at Peterborough United. His form there earned a move to Queens Park Rangers, where he found game time harder to come by.
Following his departure from Loftus Road the 29-year-old spent a year with Sheffield United, before moving north of the border to sign for Hearts. His time at Tynecastle was just as brief though and he joined Charlton in the summer of 2020.
Washington scored 11 goals in his first season at the Valley, and has already gone one better with 12 so far in the current campaign.
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