Manchester City loanee Lewis Fiorini will require easing into action after 18 injury-disrupted months, Michael Appleton reveals
Charlton head coach Michael Appleton says that Lewis Fiorini will be eased into first-team action following 18 months of injury hell.
The Manchester City loanee spent last season with Michael Appleton’s former club Blackpool but only made 14 appearances after suffering a hamstring problem in August 2022 that kept him out until mid-February.
Fiorini, 21, hasn’t played any football this season after picking up a further issue upon his return to the Citizens in the summer.
The midfielder, who also worked under Appleton during the Addicks boss’ time at Lincoln City, will stay at The Valley for the rest of the campaign after joining on the same day that Sheffield Wednesday’s Tyreeq Bakinson made a temporary switch to SE7.
When asked for an indication on Fiorini’s fitness, Appleton said: “He doesn’t need a mini pre-season as he’s been training now for five weeks but certainly from a playing point of view, we’d definitely have to stagger him.
“We’ve been in a position in the last few games – not necessarily today (during the 3-3 draw at Port Vale) – where, when we’ve had to make changes, the level has dropped a little bit. The standard. And we’ve not gone again. What Lewis will do, if he has to come off the bench and that’s his way of doing it, he’ll be able to pick up the standard and help kick us on a little bit.
“Lewis is definitely a little bit more attack-minded. Scores a lot of goals from outside the box. From 20, 22 yards, he’s deadly. Takes things on the back foot, really positive. I’ve worked with him a couple of times so I know what I can expect. At this level he is very, very good.
“From a physicality point of view, he’s a man-mountain in the middle of the park,” added Appleton on Camden-born Bakinson, 25.
“He’s 6ft 3, he can deal with the ball. He can play as a four, play as an eight. He’s had a lot of success at this level as recently as last season with Sheffield Wednesday, getting promoted. He’s going to give us a great option there.”
But will Charlton be using the rest of the campaign to cast their eyes over the two new arrivals with a view to keeping them on beyond this season?
“Potentially,” explained Appleton.
“Tyreeq is out of contract so that is something we can be aware of.
“Lewis has got two-and-a-half years left on his deal at Manchester City but he’s getting to an age now where clearly he needs to play football on a regular basis. He needs to find a home. He’s clearly not going to play for Manchester City. So, that might be something that down the line – as long as he plays well, stays fit, plays the games – that we might seem to do.”
