A look ahead to.....Northwich

Blimey, Charlton Athletic on ITV! I cannot remember the last time we appeared on the home of Loose Women and Midsomer Murders but it has to be quite a while ago. Pretty disappointing when you consider supposed ardent Addick Michael Grade has been head honcho there for the last couple of years - anyway I digress.

The channel three audience will be able to witness Parky's boys go head-to-head with Northwich Victoria, a side who like the Addicks have suffered the ignominy of relegation in recent times. Unlike the Addicks (though who knows how close we were to entering it), the Trickies have slipped into administration, so will be intent on beating us for both prestige and to add money to the coffers.

Our Cheshire-based opponents will not be at full strength, however, with the free-scoring Mark Danks and club captain Simon Grand absent through suspension. It is unlikely the Addicks will field their finest eleven, though, and I expect a few of the regular first team may be given a breather.

With Deon's hernia issue, I would advocate giving McLeod and Tuna (who dovetailed pretty well in the JP Trophy against Barnet) a run out, in addition to Wagstaff, who has provided some impressive cameos so far this term and will be eager to show his skills against his former temporary employers.

Carl Ikeme has been prohibited from playing by the Wolves hierarchy, so Darren Randolph - whose future at the Valley looks pretty bleak - can put himself in the shop window and hopefully the Addicks can put themselves in round two with the minimum of fuss. Somehow, I doubt it will be that easy.