Charlton v Preston

LEROY LITA makes his Charlton debut at home to Preston on Saturday with manager Alan Pardew wanting him to become a rattlesnake to shake up his strikers.

Pardew, who signed the former Thanet schoolboy this week on a 28-day loan from Premier League Reading, confirmed that the striker will start the game and said: "Whenever I've seen Leroy he's struck me as a hungry striker.

"A striker who wants to get goals. Too many times this season we've threatened a goal without threatening it enough.

"His introduction comes at a time when we have a lot of games and I'm hoping he will put a rattlesnake in among our other strikers.

"I want him to say to them 'come on, what are you going to do?'

"The most important reason for Leroy to be here is to score goals. I've always liked him from his days with Bristol City and Reading because he ticks all the boxes with his ability to conjure up goals."

Pardew threatened to freshen up his squad following Tuesday's 1-1 home draw against leaders Bristol City and could make several changes who recently beat former leaders Stoke and won in midweek at Leicester.

The Charlton manager said he is hoping club chief executive Peter Varney will change his mind following Thursday's shock announcement that he is to stand down on June 30.

Read a match report and see pictures from The Valley here on Saturday.