CHARLTON hope to have their promotion hopes boosted by the return of key players from injury in time for the run-in.

Goalkeeper Rob Elliot and leading scorer Deon Burton have both missed several games recently, hindering manager Phil Parkinson’s plans to guide the Addicks back to the Championship at the first attempt.

But Parky was happy to report that Elliot and Burton, on the bench for the 1-0 defeat to Norwich, are back to full fitness and in contention for next week’s trip to Exeter.

He said: “We’ve got Deon back, for the last few games we’ve missed Deon because he’s our top goalscorer and if you take the top goalscorer out of any team then it’s going to be tough.

“What Deon also does is create a lot with his link play and we can build up off him.

“We’ve been a bit unlucky with injuries to strikers but in terms of looking solid as a team we’ve been first class.”

On Elliot, Parky admitted that he could face a goalkeeper selection headache, explaining: “Robbie’s fine now, and he’s in contention for the next match. He was on the bench against Norwich and he’s fit and raring to go but Darren’s been playing well.”

And fortunately for Charlton, Burton’s premature appearance in place of Akpo Sodje was more of a precautionary measure rather than due to another serious injury to a centre forward.

Parky added: “I don’t think Akpo’s injury is massive. He’s got a slight thigh strain which sometimes with those things you’re best off taking the player off rather than risk making it worse.”

Another boost for Parkinson was the tremendous reception the Valley crowd gave their side despite a heartbreaking defeat to the now-promoted Canaries, one he hopes will play a crucial role in the club’s remaining fixtures.

He said: “The home mood of any of the teams challenging up at the top is so important, and I was absolutely delighted with the way the supporters responded to the players today because it told me they saw a team which had given everything to win a game of football.

“The lads have absolutely run themselves into the ground and played with some tremendous quality at times but just couldn’t get that all-elusive goal, and I was thinking if we got one we would have gone on to win the game.

“I’m sure when the lads go back to their families today and everyone tells them how well they’ve played and confirms what I’ve already said to them they’ll come in Monday relishing the next game.

“I think, looking at it now, it’s got to be three wins to finish second but you never know. It’s so unpredictable and so tense at this time of the year.”