Talk of Holland move premature

Charlton manager Alan Curbishley has denied reports of a loan deal which would bring the former Blues captain Matt Holland back to Portman Road.

Reports in both the local and national media last week suggested that Holland favoured a temporary move back to Suffolk to help regain his fitness and form, before making a fresh assault on getting back into the Charlton starting line-up.

But talking to the Addicks official website, Curbishley said that Holland’s comments were misquoted:

"Matty phoned me up as soon as that hit the papers, to be fair, and said he had been misquoted," added Alan.

"He had a really disappointing pre-season and I think that Wednesday's Ireland game was his third game of the season."

"I am aware that Matt is available to me - and Jason Euell, who has just started light training, isn't too far off as well."

With no-one at the club willing to confirm the rumours last week, and despite optimism from the fans that a deal could be done, it appears that any stories linking Holland back to the Blues was purely paper talk.

In tonight’s match against Coventry, Town boss Joe Royle will re-jig his midfield after a lacklustre display against Reading on Sunday. Current captain Jim Magilton is likely to be rested in favour of loanee Jimmy Juan, and new boy Adam Proudlock may be given a start on the right of midfield after an impressive second-half cameo against the Royals.

The game also sees former Town man James Scowcroft return to Portman Road yet again, following his loan spell at the end of last season and subsequent summer move from Leicester to the Sky Blues.