Striker Pablo Couñago and defenders Moritz Volz and Pim Balkestein are injury concerns ahead of Saturday's trip to the Valley. Couñago appears the most likely of the three to be fit enough to face Alan Pardew's side.

The Spaniard picked up a slight ankle knock in training but is expected to be fine. Volz is back in training after the hamstring problem he sustained against Wigan, but probably won't be risked against the Addicks, while Balkestein's groin injury looks likely to keep the Dutchman out of the 16.

Those knocks, and the long-term injuries to Ben Thatcher (torn thigh muscle) and Tommy Smith (broken ankle), suggest manager Jim Magilton will stick with the back four of David Wright, Gareth McAuley, Richard Naylor and Alex Bruce, with Richard Wright in goal.

The Blues' midfield remains the area where most decisions have to be made with Owen Garvan and Iván Campo getting the nod in the central positions against Barnsley in midweek.

Magilton may decide to recall either David Norris, particularly impressive in Town's away games at Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday, or Tommy Miller to one of the central roles alongside either the Irishman or the Spaniard.

Alan Quinn will probably continue on the left with Jon Walters on the right. Alternatively, Magilton could choose to field a five-man midfield with three from Garvan, Campo, Norris, Miller and Veliche Shumulikoski in the centre and Stead as a lone frontman.

If Town continue with the 4-4-2 formation used for the most part against Barnsley, then Stead would start alongside Couñago with former Addick Kevin Lisbie coming in if the Spaniard fails to make it.

Boss Jim Magilton says he is happy with Town's current position: "Unlike the media, who have put added pressure on us, I don't make predictions. I concentrate on preparing my players to win every game they go into. Some of the criticism has been over the top, and I am really pleased with where we are.

"We have been a bit nervy and were not at our best despite the 3-0 victory over Barnsley on Tuesday.

"We are confident we can build on that against Charlton, and it is nice to have the opportunity to extend our five-match unbeaten league run.

"In the first 45 minutes at the Valley last season we were very poor, so we have a chance to right a few wrongs.”

Charlton boss Alan Pardew has vowed to make changes to his side after two successive defeats. French midfielder Thierry Racon is unavailable due to a foot injury and Jon Fortune is out with a knee ligament problem. Linvoy Primus is his likely replacement at central defence despite hurting his back at Crystal Palace in the week. Striker Izale McLeod, who has had a knee injury, is also out.

Chinese international Zheng Zhi is reportedly set to make his first start of the season, while Svetoslav Todorov, Andy Gray and Grant Basey could all come into Pardew's plans.

The former West Ham boss says fitness was behind his decision to release Kevin Lisbie in the summer of 2007: "For the first time for about five or six years Kevin is having an injury free run, which is something he never had here unfortunately.

"There is absolutely no doubt in my mind he would still be a Charlton player if I felt I would get a fitness level out of him where I could see him for the season. The records suggested that wasn't going to happen.

"Since he has gone he must have played every game and trained every day, which is sod's law I guess.

"He is a great lad and I really like him and his family. I hope he doesn't hurt us on Saturday."

Pardew has been under attack from some sections of his club's support after a start to the season which sees his side 17th in the table on 10 points having won two and lost two at home.

A defeat to local rivals Crystal Palace in midweek on top of a loss at home to Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday has intensified the pressure, but Pardew says he can cope: "I understand the criticism because I've lost a home game and I've lost to our local rivals.

"In both games you could look at them and view them negatively and you would do if you were a fan because the result ultimately speaks for itself. What I have to do is look at solutions rather than problems.

"Now I understand our run in this campaign so far should have been a lot better than it has been.

"I think we will get it right, I feel confident in the players, I think we've got enough ability here to get in the play-offs and we need to prove that.

"Unfortunately as much as I can talk today, it really does mean nothing. My experience at West Ham in terms of pressure being on is that I know I can cope.

"All I know is my staff and I can deal with it and what we have to do as a group, the players included, is win and that will address a lot of ills I think.

"What motivates me is to come off the pitch on Saturday and see Charlton fans smiling with a win.”

Pardew says he is well aware of Town's strengths and weaknesses: "I know the Ipswich squad well, I've come up against them twice in the play-offs as manager at West Ham. They're a good side and they play great football, but it's a home game and I think they're vulnerable in areas which we will have to exploit.

"In the first half last season we were on fire, we sat a bit deep in the second half so we didn't have it all our way. But it's the sort of victory we'd love to have on Saturday, where we stamp our authority on the game, which I don't think we've really done this season.

"Hopefully the fans will get behind us for the first 60 minutes, and if we haven't delivered by then, I will understand a bit of frustration.

"But after losing two games on the spin, you need a bit of help from your fans. If they support us, then they will help us, it's as simple as that. If we don't get the win, they're entitled to moan, they pay their money and they want to see us do well."

Summer Town signing Kevin Lisbie spent 12 years at the Valley before joining Colchester in 2007, while Danny Haynes was a full-back in the Addicks' academy but was released at 16 when he joined Town. Ben Thatcher left Charlton over the summer after a new contract offer was withdrawn due to tighter financial constraints at the Valley.

Former Blues Matt Holland and Darren Ambrose are in Alan Pardew's squad at present, while Jim Magilton was keen to sign striker Andy Gray from Burnley in January when the Scot instead moved to the South Londoners.

Town have just about had the better of the Addicks over the years, the Blues winning 18 games (14 in the league), Charlton 16 (13) and eight (seven) ending in draws.

Last season, goals from Danny Haynes and Owen Garvan gave Town a 2-0 win at Portman Road, while the shocker of a first half at the Valley handed the Addicks a 3-0 lead at the break, Ambrose (2) and Chris Iwelumo having netted the goals. Pablo Couñago pulled one back with a 12-yard backheel in the second half and Alan Lee missed a penalty as the Blues went down 3-1, Jon Fortune picking up a post-final whistle red card for punching Lee.

Saturday's referee is Grant Hegley from Hertfordshire, who has shown 10 yellow cards and no reds in seven games so far this season. Hegley's last Town game was the 2-0 home victory over Southampton in November last year.

Likely squad: R Wright, Supple, Bruce, D Wright, Naylor, McAuley, Campo, Garvan, Shumulikoski, Norris, Miller, Quinn, Walters, Haynes, Couñago, Stead, Lisbie.

Photo: Action Images

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