Harriott has been a breath of fresh air for Addicks (From News Shopper)

Harriott has been a breath of fresh air for Addicks

3:29pm Tuesday 12th March 2013 in Charlton Athletic

ADDICKS columnist MATIAS GREZ has a new hero after Saturday’s vital 1-0 success at Huddersfield – homegrown youngster and match winner Callum Harriott.

EVER since bursting onto the scene during the January home win against Blackpool, Callum Harriott has been a breath of fresh air.

Since then, his first team appearances have been scarce, but after the dismal 1-0 home defeat against Burnley it was obvious Chris Powell had no choice but to freshen things up.

In the subsequent two matches against Peterborough and Huddersfield, Harriott has played 90 minutes and 79 minutes respectively.

Not only has he started getting the minutes under his belt, he is also starting to become the driving force behind almost every Charlton attack.

In his first league start of the season against Peterborough, he laid on an assist for captain Johnnie Jackson and went one better against Huddersfield by scoring a well-worked fourth minute winner.

It has been a long time since we have had a rapid, skillful, out-and-out winger with the ability to run at and take on opposition full-backs.

More importantly, however, Harriott has the confidence required to be a success in this team and in this division.

As much as his hard work and endeavour is something to admire, Bradley Pritchard has neither the ability nor the skill to take on opposition defenders when he is bewilderingly used out on the right.

Scott Wagstaff is, and has been for a while, the closest thing the side have to a winger, although he sometimes lacks the trickery needed to consistently go past the opposition full-backs.

In fact, the last player I can remember to play for Charlton who had Harriott’s blistering pace and fleet of foot to go past a defender is Dennis Rommedahl.

On top of his raw talent and brilliant self-confidence, Harriott also has a love for the club, a positive factor in any young player who comes through their team’s youth ranks.

His comments after scoring the winner against Huddersfield were some of the best I have heard from a Charlton player. Ever!

He said: “Buzzing as hell. I scored and didn’t even know where my fans were.

“I just saw all the red shirts running towards me. I felt like I was in heaven.”

Hearing those kind of words from a 19-year-old is refreshing and it’s good to see Harriott join the likes of Wagstaff and Chris Solly, who have both stepped up from the youth team to the starting XI.

Let’s hope Powell and his staff don’t feel the need to wrap him in cotton wool, as he looks stocky and powerful enough to be able to play regularly at this level.

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