Collins Sichenje: Charlton Coach Explains Risk That Led to Harambee Stars Defender’s Injury

Nathan Jones, the head coach of Charlton Athletic, has opened up about the circumstances that contributed to Collins Sichenje picking up an injury after the defender was forced into action during a demanding run of matches.

The Kenyan international missed Saturday’s match as Charlton boosted their survival hopes with a narrow 1-0 victory over Birmingham City in the EFL Championship. Sichenje is currently sidelined while recovering from the injury he sustained after playing several matches in quick succession.

Before being ruled out, the Harambee Stars defender had featured in three consecutive games for the club. He made his debut in a 1-1 draw against Southampton, where he completed the full 90 minutes. He then followed that performance with a 55-minute appearance against West Bromwich Albion before playing 77 minutes in Charlton’s clash against Wrexham last weekend.

Jones admitted that the club never planned to use Sichenje so heavily soon after his January arrival from Serbian side FK Vojvodina. However, injuries to key players forced the coach to rely on the Kenyan defender sooner than expected.

Jones Explains What Led to Sichenje’s Injury

According to Jones, injuries to important members of the squad left him with limited options, which ultimately placed Sichenje in a difficult situation.

He explained that both Reece Burke and Luke Berry suffered muscular problems, forcing the coaching staff to reshuffle the squad.

Jones revealed that Sichenje’s situation was largely due to unfortunate timing. After completing the full match against Southampton, he was brought on again during the match against West Brom. During that game, another defender, Lloyd Jones, picked up an injury after around 20 minutes, leaving the coaching staff with little choice but to keep Sichenje on the pitch.

The situation repeated itself in the following match against Wrexham when Burke went down with an injury early in the game. With limited defensive options available, Sichenje was once again required to step in and play extended minutes, which eventually led to his injury.

Charlton Boss Regrets Taking the Risk

Jones acknowledged that the demanding schedule was a big gamble for the young defender, particularly because he had only recently arrived from Serbia and was still adjusting to the pace and intensity of English football.

He noted that the Championship is widely known for its physical demands and relentless schedule, which is often more intense than many other European leagues. Because of this, the coaching staff knew there was a risk in pushing Sichenje so quickly after his arrival.

Despite those concerns, the coach admitted that the team had little choice due to the injury crisis within the squad.

Charlton’s victory over Birmingham lifted them to 18th place in the 24-team Championship table with 44 points. The result moved them nine points clear of the relegation zone as they prepare for a difficult midweek fixture against promotion-chasing Middlesbrough, a match that may come too soon for Sichenje as he continues his recovery.