Curbishley strikes at the double

Alan Curbishley finally found some joy at the end of a week of growing frustration as he made a last-minute double signing.

Sweden international winger Jesper Blomqvist and long-serving Middlesbrough midfielder Robbie Mustoe arrived at The Valley today with just 24 hours until the transfer window shuts.

It proved a turnaround in fortunes for Charlton boss Curbishley, who saw his side beaten by Tottenham on Tuesday, lose out on initial targets Alex and Martijn Reuser and fail to get Paul Konchesky’s three-match ban scrubbed all in quick succession.

Both Blomqvist and Mustoe were free agents and have signed one-year and three-month deals respectively.

Mustoe, 34, was released by Boro after 12 seasons in the north-east while Blomqvist – who did not sign in time to face West Ham tomorrow – was expected to join Steve McClaren’s side after Everton made him available.

Curbishley has worked tirelessly to bolster his squad over the past few days.

After getting up at 5am on Wednesday, just hours after suffering defeat to Spurs at The Valley, he drove to Sheffield to find out the Home Office had turned down an appeal to get Brazilian-born Japan international midfielder Alex a work permit, after agreeing a £2.3million package with Shimizu S-Pulse.

Yesterday he was in Coventry, where referee Graham Barber refused to alter his decision to red card Konchesky for an alleged elbow on Chelsea’s Enrique de Lucas on the opening day of the season.

Then, having agreed a deal with Ipswich for Reuser, a combination of the Dutchman’s fitness – he limped out of the UEFA Cup tie with Avenir Beggen last night – and the player’s unwillingness to move scuppered the back-up plan.

So Curbishley targeted Blomqvist, who lifted the European Cup with Manchester United in 1999 but has been plagued by knee trouble ever since.

He was trying to prove his fitness to McClaren, former assistant manager at Old Trafford, when Curbishley decided to take a chance on the 28-year-old.

“He’s not really a risk, we have checked him out with the physios at Manchester United and Everton and he’s had the severest of medicals,” said Curbishley.

“All along I have been looking for someone who could come in and give us something different on the left.

“Alex was more of an offensive player but he didn’t have the criteria. You have to have a cut off line of yes and no and that line is 75% of international games, so we accepted that.

“Jesper was up with Steve McClaren at Middlesbrough and I thought he was going to sign there so when he became available we stepped in.

“He heard about our interest and that’s what changed it, I think.”

Similarly to last season, Charlton have been dealt cruel luck in the opening weeks – as well as Konchesky missing through suspension, they are still without captain Graham Stuart (knee), Scott Parker (ankle) and summer signing Gary Rowett (back).

“I had to move quickly because of losing those four players in three weeks,” added Curbishley.

“Add that to Mark Kinsella going to Villa and that’s five.

“So these two new players will give the squad the strength we need, we acted quickly and I hope it’s a success.”

Mustoe, who was training with First Division Derby following his 365 league games with Boro, should be among the Charlton substitutes at Upton Park tomorrow.

“Robbie Mustoe played nearly every game for Middlesbrough last season and that isn’t too much of a gamble either,” said Curbishley.

“We have given him a three-month contract and I think he sees it as a challenge to show us what he has got and earn a longer stint.”

While accepting the decision by the Government to pull the plug on Alex’s five-year contract, Curbishley remains upset at losing Konchesky for three weeks.

“I am still convinced that out version was right and I was confident that even if he didn’t get it overturned that the ban would be reduced,” he said.

“But Grham Barber wouldn’t change his mind and the commission went with that.”