Jayden Stockley admitted that the creativity of Charlton Athletic convinced him to choose Lee Bowyer’s side over League One rivals Sunderland during the January window, while speaking to London News Online.
While the Black Cats slipped ever further from the automatic promotion positions with a 2-1 defeat to Shrewsbury Town in midweek – the harshest of reminders of how far this great club has fallen – Charlton have now taken their place in the top six.
Stockley led the line impressively in the 2-0 triumph over Rochdale and, although he has scored just once for the Addicks thus far, a glut of goals might not be too far away with Chuks Aneke, Liam Millar and co creating opportunities aplenty.
London News Online reported that Sunderland wanted to take Stockley on loan when it became clear that Preston North End were open to offers.
But, when Charlton came calling, the former Exeter ace wasted little time in putting pen to paper.
“I had a conversation with my family about the best destination,” Stockley explained. “It was looking at the way sides play, to work out which would get the best out of me and vice versa.
“There has got to be fast and creative players around me. I’m not blessed with the most pace. You want those forward players to put balls in and make runs off you.
“I see myself as someone who can bring other people into play and set up those players who like to have nice touches around the box. Hopefully I can give them the ball more often than not so they can do their thing.
“I can then rely on getting in the box, getting in good positions and waiting on the delivery.
“My thinking is that this is a loan to prove myself in the future,” he said. “This is to look at the long term – I’m putting myself out there now.
“That’s why I selected Charlton as an absolutely brilliant option. I came here with longevity in mind.”
As Sunderland suffered a demoralising defeat at Shrewsbury, there was little to suggest that Stockley made the wrong call.
The Wearsiders are winless in three, with a lack of cutting edge threatening to consign them to a fourth straight League One campaign.
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