Charlton must swoop for Norwich centre-back Akin Famewo after Norwich’s loan manager, Neil Adams, admitted that the defender is likely to go back out on loan next season.
What’s the talk?
Adams has opened the door to the “strong” defender Famewo leaving Carrow Road on a temporary basis again next season. The former Luton man spent the 2020/21 campaign on loan to Charlton in League One.
Adams has said that the ultimate goal for Famewo is to be part of their first-team squad, but that it will not happen right away and he needs to have a pathway to reach his target.
He told Norwich’s official website:
“It is different, because when you are sending players on loan what is the ultimate, what is the target, what is the goal? As I said before, it is to come back and play for us but sometimes that needs to be done in stages.
“The goal for Akin was to go and get games under his belt, to go and prove himself at League One level and impress at a good club, a really big club, in Charlton Athletic. He has had a fantastic loan there. He was excellent. He kept six clean sheets in the first seven games, and six clean sheets on the spin, which is pretty much unheard of at any level.
“He was part of that back four and the goalkeeper who did that, along with the team to give Charlton credit. We have seen all his games and he has done really well. He has shown his attributes, that we know he has got. He is strong, he is quick, he can defend, and he can play on the ball.
“He was hampered by one or two injuries, which was a bit of a shame, because it disrupted his flow and frustrated him, but I think overall he went and showed what a good defender he is and, obviously, he has ticked that box and now it is on to next season and what decision and what pathway he has now.”
Fans would love it
Famewo made an instant impact upon his arrival at Charlton at the start of the season, helping to keep six clean sheets in his first seven starts. Charlton kept shutouts against Sunderland, Portsmouth and Oxford during that run of games, with the 22-year-old playing all bar 16 minutes of the six matches. In total, Charlton kept clean sheets in 10 of the 20 League One game Famewo started, whilst Nigel Adkins’ side only kept seven clean sheets in the 26 games Famewo either missed or began on the bench.
Of all the Charlton defenders to start 15 or more League One games, Famewo averaged the highest WhoScored rating in the squad. Famewo averaged a score of 6.96 in 22 games, 7.04 in 20 starts, with Jake Forster-Caskey and Jayden Stockley the only players – out of every position – to manage better than that over the course of the season. Famewo was a dominant defender for Charlton, winning four aerial battles and making one block per game in League One to go along with his 4.5 clearances per game.
Famewo did struggle with injuries during his spell with Adkins’ team. The Norwich defender suffered a hamstring injury in November before missing two months of the campaign with an ankle injury during the festive period. This caused Famewo’s season to stutter and the defender was unable to play the majority of Charlton’s league matches because of it.
Bringing him back to the club for a second season could give him the chance to stay fit for the entire year and play the regular matches that Adams admits Norwich want for him.
Furthermore, Charlton fans should be happy if the club can get a deal done as not only will their team be getting a quality player, but supporters will be given the opportunity to enjoy his impressive defending in person with crowds permitted at matches next season.
AND in other news, Les Reed is delighted to see this key man thriving at Charlton…