Curbishley poised for new signings

Alan Curbishley is poised for a New Year plunge into the transfer market after admitting his squad is stretched to breaking point.

The Charlton boss is reeling from a string of injuries which reached a head minutes before kick-off in the 3-2 defeat at Southampton.

Centre-back Mark Fish pulled his groin in the warm-up, meaning a last-minute change with Jon Fortune being promoted from the bench.

Curbishley now has eight men on the sidelines and will act when the transfer window opens on January 1 if his injury crisis does not improve.

“We just cannot take any more injuries,” the manager admitted. “I’ve heard Liverpool moaning about injuries but we had eight senior players out.

“I need some of them back and I’ll be delighted if they get fit as it would bring me the competition I need.

“But that’s yet to happen so the window opens soon and if some players still aren’t back by the end of January, I’ll have to seriously think about it.”

Charlton’s recent fine form has collapsed in the last week, with the 1-0 defeat by Leeds followed by the reverse at St Mary’s.

The Addicks had gone seven games unbeaten before losing to Leeds, which briefly propelled them into fourth and Curbishley knows the importance of resuming the points-gathering as soon a possible.

“You can go on runs in the Premiership,” he said. “We’ve got to stop this one as soon as possible and our next chance is away to Middlesbrough.

“We haven’t got results in recent weeks but it’s the same players who hadn’t let in goals who are letting them in now.”

Saints centre-back Michael Svensson hit the net after five minutes yesterday and Brett Ormerod grabbed the first of his brace just before half-time whistle.

Scott Parker starred in front of the watching Sven-Goran Eriksson after the break, scoring less than a minute into the second half and equalising 18 minutes later.

But Ormerod struck in an 86th-minute scramble to clinch victory for the Saints.

Curbishley was happy his midfield is contributing goals again.

“I’ve been saying they needed to score more so it was pleasing our goals came from midfield,” he added.

“Scott scored two great goals. Claus Jensen should be hitting a few more, while Matt Holland can get goals and Graham Stuart likes to get in there as well.”

Southampton boss Gordon Strachan saluted Ormerod for his two-goal effort against the Addicks.

“Brett could have scored four or five,” Strachan said. “He’s high energy. He’s a different sort of player to Kevin Phillips and giving us what we need at the moment.”