Former England full-back Chris Powell is reportedly being targeted by Town boss Joe Royle. The Blues' boss is keen to bring in more loan players and has said he will step up his search this week.

According to the report, Royle has made tentative enquiries regarding Powell and a number of other players. Royle may feel that a left-back is required to bolster his squad with Chris Makin still out of action for at least a month following thigh surgery.

Powell, 34, won five England caps early in Sven Goran-Eriksson's spell managing he national side. However, this season he has been largely out of Charlton's plans and recently said he would accept a loan move if one came along.

The Lambeth-born defender started his career at Crystal Palace in the late eighties before having a loan spell at Aldershot. He moved to Southend on a free in 1990 and joined Derby six years later, commanding a fee of £800,000.

Charlton paid the Rams a similar figure for his services in 1998.

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