Charlton Athletic announce high-profile free-agent signing ahead of Portsmouth contest
Pompey make the trip to south London this Saturday to face Charlton Athletic in the Championship.
Nathan Jones believes Charlton Athletic have taken a ‘mini gamble’ after announcing the signing of former Wolfsburg and Montpellier defender Jerome Roussillon.
The Addicks delved into the free-agent market ahead of Saturday’s defeat to Coventry City, with left-back Josh Edwards sidelined due to injury.
Although the 32-year-old arrival was left out of the matchday squad at the CBS Arena, he could feature against Pompey at The Valley this Saturday.
Roussillon, who has featured in the Champions League and Europa League during an outstanding career in France and Germany, has penned a short-term deal with the Addicks having been without a club following his departure from Union Berlin at the end of last season.
While Jones believes the Guadeloupe international’s arrival is a ‘gamble’, he is adamant the experienced full-back was the best available option currently on the market.
Why Charlton signed high-profile free-agent left-back
The Charlton boss told Rich Cawley’s South London Sport: ‘We had to have a look at him physically, in terms of things.There are not many left-siders around in the free agent market, so you have to be very clever.
‘You have to keep that free agent thing in the background, for anything. We don’t like doing that - but it is needs must.
‘With us building the squad we were only able to bring in one left wing-back and Amari’i was cover for that. When Josh was out for a number of weeks it put a lot of pressure on him - that is when we became a little bit unstuck. We needed cover in that area.
‘He (Roussillon) is a left-back or more of an attacking full-back. He has got wonderful quality in the final third. So he will add that and he is very composed - he’s played several seasons in the Bundesliga.
“He comes with a good pedigree. What we have to do is get him up to speed because pedigree-wise it is not a problem. He will provide good competition and he’s an excellent character.
‘We will re-assess the impact he has [until the transfer window opens] and then we can move forward. That is the benefit of the free agent market, you can do that. Anything more long term, we don’t know how he is going to react to the environment.
‘It’s a mini gamble but it’s a calculated one. It’s one we needed to take.’
Pompey make the trip to The Valley currently occupying a spot in the Championship relegation zone following Saturday’s disappointment against Bristol City.
Roussillon joins a Charlton side, who have lost all of their previous four league matches and conceded 12 during that time.
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