CHARLTON manager Chris Powell has hinted Paul Benson might be moving on soon due to lack of first team opportunities at The Valley.

Benson, who was signed last summer by Phil Parkinson from Dagenham & Redbridge, was on the brink of joining Notts County in the summer before the deal collapsed at the last minute.

He returned to the fold in SE7 to battle for a first team place, but has so far struggled to feature and didn’t even make the bench in the last two games at Notts County and Colchester.

Powell has already had phone calls from several interested clubs on Benson’s availability in recent weeks and the boss sais he wasn’t surprised.

He explained: “I can’t stop it with Paul because what a lot of clubs do, which is quite right, they look at teams and what XI they’ve played and then they look at people on the bench and think’is this player available?’.

“I think they’ve done that with Paul and I’ve spoken to him about the situation and said when clubs officially come in and speak and would like to possibly do something, I will always tell a player because I don’t want them thinking we’re hiding that away from them.

“It is only right and I’ve said to Paul I appreciate he isn’t in the team. He wants to play and is in his early 30s and he is thinking ‘I really need to play’.

“I can’t guarantee him that, especially now the way we are going.”

Powell added: “I’ve said to him ‘Look at the situation and if you feel it is right and both clubs are happy, then it is something you can look at’.

“If not then he is still here as part of my squad because I think Paul Benson will always score goals at this level and we will just have to wait and see how it pans out.

“He has come in, he has trained, he has been as good as ever and he is a very likeable man and player.

“I can’t stop other clubs picking up the phone and thinking will Paul Benson improve their squad, whether it is permanent or on loan.”

Follow us on Twitter @NewsShopperSprt