Zheng wants Premiership return

Zheng Zhi believes he can still do a job in the Barclays Premiership despite being unable to help keep Charlton up.

The China midfielder is set to return to his parent club Shandong Luneng following a loan spell at The Valley.

Zheng made 12 appearances for the Addicks, scoring once, and proved a useful option to Alan Pardew, whose side were eventually relegated with one game still to play despite a brave battle to stay up.

Charlton had taken the player on loan during December, with a view to a permanent move.

However, following their relegation, Zheng’s future now seems to lie away from south-east London.

The 26-year-old will “miss the days at Charlton” – but remains determined to prove himself capable of playing at the highest level.

“This experience was the most unforgettable of my life,” he said.

“I still have my dreams and the ability to carry out these dreams, so I have no regrets.”

Zheng told Chinese newspaper Titan Sports Weekly: “I have no idea about my future.

“All I can say is everything in England has come to a full stop.

“I will miss the days in Charlton. Now I will go back to Shandong Luneng. What I do and where I go next should be decided by the club.”

Pardew met with the squad earlier this week as he starts to plan for life in the Coca-Cola Championship.

The futures of several senior players are likely to be resolved sooner rather than later, with current deals running until the end of June.

Pardew has already let veteran striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink go following an overall disappointing campaign at The Valley.

The biggest dilemma Charlton will face now is whether to try to hold on to star striker Darren Bent, or cash in on him and the likes of fellow England international Luke Young to help fund the rebuilding process.

Pardew knows it may be difficult to persuade both men to continue their careers outside the top flight, for a season at the very least, and maintain a place in the future plans of national team manager Steve McClaren.

Liverpool are the latest club to be linked with a £15m (€21.9m) move for the former Ipswich striker, with Tottenham, Newcastle and West Ham also monitoring the situation closely.

Full-back Young is a reported target for both Aston Villa and Everton.