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Ian Evatt reckons Charlton will kick on under Nathan Jones this season – and insists Wanderers must be ready for a “challenge” at the Valley.
Jones took charge of his first pre-season with the Addicks this summer and has been putting his stamp on the squad.
When asked if Charlton are a different animal this season, Evatt replied: “I think they are an improved animal. Nathan has made them better, he has recruited well and they have started the season strongly.
“I think they are going to be in the top six this season. Nathan is a good, experienced manager and knows what it takes to win. I see an improved team and it is going to be a challenge, it always is there.
“But we have a pretty good record there, the pitch and environment suits us well. Charlton as a football club is a great marker and some perspective about our situation.
“It is a huge club, they were in the Premier League. They have spent a lot of time at this level, they have spent a lot of money and never really been close to getting out of it.
“That gives us some perspective and it is good to see that they are doing better and improving. As I said, Nathan has done a great job.
“But for us, being close to promotion in the last two years and only being back at this level for four years, we should really look at them and give ourselves some perspective.”
Evatt hopes his side can build on their opening day victory at Leyton Orient and wants to see more of the “resilience” they showed at Brisbane Road.
“At times here, the resilience piece has been labelled at us – and sometimes rightly so, we have to take that on the chin,” the manager added.
“But I thought that was a resilient performance and a different way of winning. It is not our ideal way but it was a way.
“Wrexham was much more like the way we want to play, we just didn’t take the best chances of the game when we created them and sometimes that can happen.
“Predominantly in a League One season, you are going to have to win the way we did at Leyton Orient and it is great to see us do it so early on.
“We have to build on that now. I think there are a lot of positives to take from the initial weeks but I think there is a lot more to come from this group.”
Evatt also issued an update on the transfer front heading into the final stages of the summer window.
“I do think there will be some movement, predominantly that movement will be in the other direction” he explained.
“We are getting phone calls all the time about some of our targets and how things are changing.
“If players had aspirations of playing at a higher level and that hasn’t materialised, they (might become available) in the last week of the window.
“We will see what we can do there, but I would think most of the movement would be through the exit door.”
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