[ad_pod ]

Charlton meet Sunderland at Wembley Stadium this weekend where both sides will be playing for promotion to the Championship via the play-off final – in football, the stakes don’t get much higher than this.

The Addicks were cruising in the weeks leading up to their semi-final clash with Doncaster Rovers but Grant McCann’s side ensured the match, which Charlton eventually won on penalties, went right down to the wire.

Lee Bowyer’s men managed to survive that scare but they are far from concern-free with their final and most important game of the season looming.

What’s the news?

Well, according to The Evening Standard, Charlton are sweating over Igor Vetokele’s fitness, with the striker losing his race against time to recover from a thigh injury before Sunday.

The speedster had forged a formidable partnership with top-scorer Lyle Taylor after Karlan Grant departed for Huddersfield in January and had scored twice in the three games prior to his setback.

The 27-year-old has chalked up five goals and five assists in 25 appearances across all competitions this season and offers crucial pace on the counter for Charlton, who could instead be forced to rely on Josh Parker even though he has yet to score for the club since arriving at The Valley in January.

Lionel Messis have been spotted at The Valley, Boundary Park and even in Wales in the video below…

Parker’s time to shine

If there’s ever a time to get your first goal in your new team’s colours, it’s in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium – if Parker nets against the Black Cats, he will go down in history despite a forgettable four months at Charlton so far.

Fortunately, the 27-year-old is blessed with pace and he will run himself into the ground for the team but the Addicks will likely miss the in-form Vetokele regardless.

Bowyer and his staff will be hoping that the Belgian-born Angolan can return to fitness just in time; if not, Parker will be looking to become Charlton’s hero.