CHARLTON are set to complete the signing of a striker within the next 48 hours with the player expected to make his debut in Saturday's friendly at home to Portuguese club Sporting Braga.

Manager Alan Pardew confirmed the club were in negotiations with a player and disclosed: "We're close on a striker and hopefully we'll do something in the next 48 hours."

He would not be drawn on the identity of the player, though the Addicks have been strongly linked with former England and Manchester United striker Andrew Cole.

Cole, 36 in October, is in dispute with Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp after being excluded from the club's trip to Hong Kong.

Redknapp is keen on Charlton midfielder Amdy Faye and the Addicks are willing to use him as a makeweight in any deal, though Cole's wages of £30,000 a week may prove prohibitive.

Charlton's need to sharpen their attack has been increased by an ankle injury to Luke Varney which will keep him out for the start of the league season.

"Luke's injury has become a bit of an issue for us because it's left us short of strikers, which is not ideal at this stage," Pardew added.

Pardew also confirmed that he was in the market for a central midfielder with West Ham's Hayden Mullins fitting the bill for the holding role the manager favours.

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