Charlton Athletic handed fitness boost over high-profile free-agent signing ahead of Portsmouth showdown
Pompey make the trip to south London to face Charlton Athletic on Saturday.
Nathan Jones has confirmed high-profile free-agent signing Jerome Roussillon could be fit to feature against Pompey this weekend.
And the Charlton Athletic boss has demanded Saturday’s sell-out crowd at The Valley get behind his side in a bid to end their four-game losing streak.
After injury to Josh Edwards earlier in the campaign, the Addicks delved into the free-agent market to sign left-back Jerome Rousillon at the end of November.
The 32-year-old had been without a club following his departure from Bundesliga outfit Union Berlin at the end of last term, but penned a short term deal in south London last week,
Charlton handed injury boost
And following a midweek outing for Charlton’s U21s, Jones is confident Roussillon could be in contention for the Blues’ visit on Saturday.
He told the club’s official website: ‘Probably training he would’ve got a higher work load and intensity but he hasn’t played in a while. We needed to get him some game minutes so when he looks back on his muscle memory he goes “I remember how to play a football game”.
‘We're pleased with how he's training and how he’s integrating. He was well behind physically when he came into the building, three or four weeks ago and now he's far closer.
‘Now he's in a good enough position to be included in the squad, and we can build from there.’
Pompey set for Charlton occasion
Charlton have confirmed Saturday’s contest will be the highest attended fixture at The Valley between the two sides, as the Addicks mark 33 years from returning to their south London home, with their opening match also played against the Blues.
And amid a difficult run of form, Jones has called for fans to utilise the occasion in a bid to help his side end a barren run of four successive defeats.
He added: ‘With any motivation we can give the players, we’ll give them.
‘It’ll be a special occasion coming back to The Valley, it’s a wonderful thing. The irony is playing Portsmouth as well there’s that. But the big thing is we have to return to winning ways.
‘We’ve been very good at The Valley. We were pulled apart against Southampton in the last game in a tough fixture and we have to rectify that.
‘We want to get back to normal and we want to get back to the things that we do best and be the best version of us. If we are, then that’s all we can concentrate on. Everything else around it, it can be a wonderful occasion on every level.
‘It’s going to take the whole football club once again to come together and get a real positive result.
‘This time last year, there were just under 11,500 at The Valley and we’re in a much better position.
‘We’ve asked them for patience, then we’ve asked them to get on board. All we ask now is to stick with us through this period because we’ll get through this and when we come through it, we’ll be in a much stronger position.’