Nathan Jones can shock us all by testing new Charlton Athletic attacking combination vs Leicester City

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Charlton Athletic host Leicester City at The Valley this weekend as the sides face each other for the first time in 11 years.

The meeting will be a good test for the Addicks, who have picked up four points from their opening two Championship games following their promotion from League One, as well as beating Stevenage 3-1 in the League Cup first round.

Recently relegated Leicester – who are still dealing with the threat of a points deduction – have had a mixed start to the campaign. The Foxes won their first fixture against Sheffield Wednesday 2-1, before losing on penalties to third tier Huddersfield in the cup and losing 2-1 at Preston North End. They could also soon be losing Bilal El Khannouss to Crystal Palace.

If Nathan Jones wants to throw the former Premier League Foxes off the scent this Saturday and secure another three points, he and Charlton should surprise them with an unexpected change to his starting lineup.

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Leicester City won’t expect Charlton to start Miles Leaburn and Isaac Tanto Olaofe

Jones has opted for introducing strikers Miles Leaburn and Isaac Tanto Olaofe as substitutes during league games so far this season.

Both stars have had a big impact after coming on – even if this hasn’t translated into goals and assists just yet.

The physicality and hold up play both forwards offer is something that would be hugely helpful against Leicester’s experienced centre-backs, Jannik Vestergaard and Caleb Okoli.

Leaburn and Olaofe started up top for the Addicks in the League Cup win over Stevenage, and even though that game was against lesser opposition, Jones’ side offered a lot more up front than usual, with both stars making goal contributions.

Olaofe, who signed from Stockport this summer, provided the assist for Leaburn, before the latter set up Ibrahim Fullah for his first ever senior goal.

21-year-old Leaburn has recently returned from a lengthy spell on the sidelines with an injury that kept him out of Charlton’s play-off run last term, and the striker appears more motivated than ever to do well.

While Charlton fans are excited to see what’s to come from new striker Charlie Kelman, Jones switching to start Olaofe and Leaburn up top this weekend could give the Addicks an advantage by setting up differently to how Marti Cifuentes imagined. Preston had success against Leicester with two up top, too.

Charlton waiting on return of key striker Matty Godden

After the Addicks sold Alfie May to Birmingham last summer, fans were left questioning whether anyone would be able to match the 2023/24 League One golden boot winner’s tally of 23 league goals.

Charlton supporters had no need to worry in the end, though, thanks to the arrival of Matty Godden from Coventry City in the same window.

The 34-year-old netted 18 league goals last term, making him the joint third highest goalscorer in the division alongside Barnsley’s Davis Keillor-Dunn, Wrexham’s Sam Smith and then-Wycombe striker Richard Kone.

New Addicks man Kelman came top with 21 goals, while Birmingham’s Jay Stansfield came second with 19.

While Charlton beat Watford 1-0, the striker was recovering from minor surgery on his knee. Jones and co. will receive a huge boost when Kent-born Godden returns from his injury.