Why Adam Matthews could prove to be a real coup for Charlton Athletic
According to the South London Press, Charlton Atheltic have completed the signing of Welsh international right-back, with the 27-year-old signing a short-term deal at The Valley until the end of the ongoing season.
The Addicks opted for a massive squad overhaul following their promotion from League One to the Championship earlier in the summer, with Lee Bowyer bringing in plenty of fresh faces to assemble a cavalry capable of thriving in the second-tier.
And Matthews has become the 15th new recruit of the summer to come through the door at The Valley, with right-back apparently brought in with a view to providing that extra bit of cover at the back.
The 27-year-old had been a free agent since his release from Sunderland at the end of the previous campaign and his move to Charlton sees him reunite with his former Celtic teammate Beram Kayal, who is currently on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion.
As well as Kayal, Matthews is likely to find it easier to slot into the setup at The Valley due to the presence of his Welsh international teammates Jonathan Williams and Tom Lockyer.
Given that his move has been confirmed during the ongoing international break, the fans will be hoping to see a glimpse of him when the Addicks play host to Birmingham City in the league next week.
Born in Swansea, Wales, Matthews started his career at Cardiff City before moving north on the border to join Scottish giants Celtic in February 2011.
The right-back’s spell at Parkhead proved to be a trophy-laden one, as he played a key role to guide the Hoops to four consecutive domestic title triumphs, while also adding the Scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup to CV.
His rampaging success at Celtic paved the way for a move to Sunderland, who were then in the Premier League, although Matthews never really got a chance to shine at the highest level.
The Welsh international spent time on loan at Bristol City before finally establishing himself in the first-team at the Stadium of Lights following the Black Cats’ relegation to the second tier.
Having overseen the club’s dramatic fall to League One, he was released after a single season in the third-tier but now a move to Charlton Athletic has offered him a much-needed escape route to resurrect his career.
Charlton, meanwhile, have taken everybody by surprise with their stellar start to the season in the Championship, with the Addicks currently placed 2nd in the standings with five wins in their first six league games.
Indeed, even the most ardent supporter of the club wouldn’t have expected such an impressive start to the season to be on the cards and, it might be too early to say, but Lee Bowyer’s side might give themselves a shot at challenging for back-to-back promotions if they manage to keep up their good work over the coming months.
Going by that, the acquisition of Adam Matthews certainly looks like a step in the right direction for the Addicks, who would have asked for a bit more cover at right-back to provide competition for club-captain Chris Solly.
They brought in Adedeji Oshilaja from Wimbledon on a free transfer earlier in the summer to shore up the backline but Matthews, with his experience at the highest level, looks like a real coup at the moment.
To Read More Charlton Athletic News, Click Here:- Latest Charlton Athletic News
We have seen in the past that the 27-year-old has got the right kind of balance in his game to make a big impact in the Championship and Charlton will be hoping that their gamble to offer him a deal pays off.
That is, of course, is Matthews manages to keep himself free of any injuries.