Charlton Athletic midfielder Simon Walton has agreed to join the Blues on a one-month loan. The 18-year-old only signed for the Addicks from Leeds United in July.

Walton, who can also play at centre-half, began his career with Leeds, the club he supported as a boy. He famously made his first appearance for the first team as a 16-year-old in a pre-season game against Valencia, in which he scored a penalty and was also sent off.

The England U19 international made 26 starts, eight sub appearances and scored three goals for the Whites but failed to win himself a regular starting place. Town fans may recall his appearance against the Blues at Elland Road in April 2005 when he was injured within seconds of coming on as a second half substitute and was immediately replaced.

A team-mate of fellow Town loanee Mark Noble at England U16 level, Walton was seen as one for the future by Charlton boss Iain Dowie, a close friend of Jim Magilton's, when he signed him on a four-year deal for a fee of £500,000 rising to £1 million earlier this summer: "Simon is a talented boy and he might surprise a few people. He's very competitive, a very strong runner in terms of power and a great athlete who is very comfortable on the ball.

"We think he's a very good investment for the future, but looking at his attributes he's a lad capable of playing in the Premiership sooner rather than later as well."

Walton, like Noble, will officially sign on Friday in order to maximise their loan periods and will go straight into the squad for Saturday's home game with Hull City.

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