Charlton v Southampton

Charlton caretaker boss Phil Parkinson goes into a crucial home Championship game with Southampton at The Valley on Saturday looking for a win that will enhance his chances of getting the job on a permanent basis.

The Addicks parted company with previous boss Alan Pardew last Saturday following a 5-2 home defeat to Sheffield United and Parkinson lost his first game in temporary charge, 2-1 at QPR on Tuesday.

He said: "It’s been a traumatic weekend for the club. Everyone knows Charlton is a fantastic club and at the moment it’s my responsibility to get a team which can put in a performance that people can be proud of.

"Results are everything in football. Everybody could see against QPR that we played well but I’m a realist and know we have to win games. I’m confident we will."

Parkinson is likely to include this week’s loan signings Deon Burton from Sheffield Wednesday and Derby’s Jay McEveley for their debuts against Southampton. He also confirmed that striker Luke Varney’s move to Derby would be made permanent in the January transfer window.

The Addicks are believed to have negotiated a fee in excess of £1 million for 26-year-old Varney who had two years of his contract remaining.

Explaining the reasons behind the decision to part company, Parkinson denied the Midlands-born player was homesick but said: "I want to make it clear that there was no pressure from the board to sell anyone.

"The percentage of the money we’ve got back for Luke was good business for the club. I just felt that his confidence was at a low ebb and that he needed a fresh start to kick-start his career.

"I think it fair to say that the deal suited all parties."

Of 32-year-old Burton’s arrival at The Valley, Parkinson added: “I don’t see many better free transfers becoming available than Deon Burton.

"I’ve had to change the dynamics of this group of players and that’s why we’ve been so busy this week in the loans market."

Midfielder Therry Racon, who scored his first goal for the club in Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat by Queens Park Rangers is a doubt to face Southampton with a knee injury.