Addicks head coach Bob Peeters says he would much rather dip into Charlton’s academy for first team players than the loan market.

Charlton went into the second international break as one of only two Championship sides yet to suffer a defeat this season, although some fans remain concerned about the lack of attacking options should top scorer Igor Vetokele suffer an injury.

Peeters isn’t completely ruling out loans as a last resort, although he makes no secret his preferred option would always be home-grown youth talent first.

The Belgian explained: “People talk about the loan window being open but I think it would be disrespectful to my players who gave me everything.

“Maybe if there is an opportunity and we need to do something we will do it, but at this moment I need to give credit to my players.

“They gave me a lot and it would be very disrespectful to bring some players in now just to bring them in and to strengthen the squad because if I have to choose I would rather go with players from the academy like Karlan Ahearne-Grant, who made his first team debut at Norwich.

“If you see a guy like that enjoying the moment when he comes on and is over the moon that gives me more satisfaction than getting a player.”

The transformation from relegation candidates to play-off chasers in such a short space of time may have surprised many.

Peeters is the first to acknowledge on paper Charlton might not have the strongest squad in the division, but singled out the recent 1-0 triumph at Norwich City as the highlight of the season so far.

He said: “We needed to make progress compared to last season, because if you are struggling to nearly the last game of the season you need to get other things into your game plan.

“I think we did brilliant in pre-season. Although the results were not fantastic, it is all about the competition.

“OK, sometimes you are struggling like against Norwich. They are a better side if you compare the two budgets.

“I said after that game as well Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe was one of the best midfielders in Belgium and he was not even in their squad.

“To be fair if you were honest in our squad he would always play, he is a very good midfielder.

“I think they have a lot of talent and a lot of ability. If you can win that one 1-0 then I must be very happy.”

Peeters’ previous managerial experience before arriving at The Valley in the summer came in Belgium with Cercle Brugge, Gent and Waasland-Beveren.

When asked to compare football in his own country with what he has discovered so far in England’s second tier.

“It is much more intense,” he said

“In Belgium it is a tough league as well but they let you play, it is not that physical.

“Here everything is at 100mph - everybody was knackered after the Norwich game.

“Frederic Bulot’s high intensity distance was 1,700m, so if you sprint and you ran 1,700m it says a lot.

“I think in Belgium it would be around 800m so it tells you a lot about how tough the Championship is.”

* Charlton’s unbeaten start has seen Peeters nominated for the September Championship manager of the month award.

The Valley chief is up against Aitor Karanka (Middlesbrough), Mick McCarthy (Ipswich Town) and Steve McClaren (Derby County) for the prize, with the winner to be revealed tomorrow morning.

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