There has been a trend in recent seasons for Charlton to blood high numbers of new players at the start of the season. In our 2011 opener against Bournemouth a new record was set when for the first time since our initial league match in1921 we fielded seven new players in a match. Last season, that record was broken with eight new players taking a bow as we took on Brentford at Griffin Park.

This year there are ten players in the squad who could make their debuts on opening day. It is, perhaps, unlikely that all ten will make it onto the pitch, but we should expect a high number. Below we take a look at those players who might make their debuts.

Name: El-Hadji BA Squad Number: 22 Position: Midfielder Born: Paris 1993 Age: 22 Height: 1.83m 6′ 0” Weight: 70kg 11st 0lb Source: Sunderland Date Signed: 29th June Deal: 3 years. Terms undisclosed Previous Clubs: Le Havre AC 13 (1)

Sunderland 1 (0)

SC Bastia [Corsica] [loan] 7 (0) Nationality: French International Appearances: France U18 6 (0)

France U19 8 (0)

France U20 5 (0) Trivia: Ba scored on his debut for Sunderland in the FA Cup against Carlisle.

He suffered a broken leg which kept him out of football for much of last season. Quote: “It’s very nice to be a Charlton player. I’m very happy to be here. It was a little bit difficult at Sunderland. I was young and didn’t have a lot of time on the pitch, but now I am older and ready to fight at Charlton”. EHB CAFC Friendlies: Made starts against Welling, Genk, Sint-Truiden, Dagenham and West Ham. Played the whole match against Bolton. Chances of Playing: Must be a good chance as has played in most first team friendlies. Name: Patrick BAUER Squad Number: 5 Position: Central Defender Born: Backnag, Germany 1992 Age: 22 Height: 1.92m 6′ 4” Weight: 84kg 13st 3lb Source: C.S. Marítimo [Madeira] Date Signed: 22nd June Deal: 4 years. Terms undisclosed Previous Clubs: VfB Stuttgart II [Germany] 7 (0)

C.S. Marítimo [Madeira] 45 (2) Nationality: German International Appearances: Germany U17 2 (0)

Germany U18 5 (1)

Germany U20 2 (1) Quote: “He will bring us a lot of height and power to our defence and is a perfect fit for the Championship.” GL CAFC Friendlies: Made starts against Welling, Genk, Sint-Truiden, Dagenham and Bolton. Played the whole match against West Ham. Chances of Playing: Good chance, looks to be a first choice centre back. Name: Zakarya BERGDICH Squad Number: 19 Position: Left Back Born: Compiègne, France 1989 Age: 26 Height: 1.78m 5′ 10” Weight: 70kg 11st 0lb Source: Real Valladolid Date Signed: 23rd July Deal: 4 years. Terms undisclosed Previous Clubs: UJA Alfortville [France] 31 (1)

RC Lens [France] 56 (2)

Valladolid [Spain] 39 (5)

Genoa [Italy] [loan] 11 (0) Nationality: Morrocan-French International Appearances: Morocco U23 11 (0)

Morocco Full 17 (0) Quote: “We identified Zakarya as a player who possesses a lot of pace on the left side of the pitch. He is an exciting footballer who will excite the Charlton fans and while with Genoa last year he played against some of the hardest opponents in European football”. GL CAFC Friendlies: Joined comaratively late, so only played against Bolton and Chelmsford. Chances of Playing: With only 74 minutes football from the pre-season friendlies, will need to proove he is match fit. Name: Cristian CEBALLOS PRIETO Squad Number: 10 Position: Attacking Midfielder Born: Santander, Spain 1992 Age: 22 Height: 1.75m 5’9” Weight: 68kg 10st 9lb Source: Tottenham Date Signed: 23rd July Deal: 3 years. Terms undisclosed Previous Clubs: Barcelona [Spain] 0

Tottenham [England] 0

F.C. Arouca [Portugal] [loan] 19 (1) Nationality: Spanish International Appearances: None Trivia: Signed for Barcelona at the age of 12. Quote: “Cristian is a very technical player, who has a lot of quality and skill”. GL CAFC Friendlies: Another late signing. Came on as a sub against Bolton Chances of Playing: Exciting prospect, but will he be fit enough? Name: Regan CHARLES-COOK Squad Number: 24 Position: Central Midfielder Born: 1997 Date Signed: 2013/14 scholarship. Trivia: Attended the same school as Joe Gomez.

Played with Arsenal youth until December 2012.

Brother Reice is a goalkeeper currently with Coventry City. CAFC Friendlies: Played a full match against Sint-Truiden and also had games against Welling, Genk, Dagenham, West Ham, Southend and Bolton. Chances of Playing: Perhaps the surprise package of the pre-season games. Looks to be a favourite of Luzon. Name: Tareiq HOLMES-DENNIS Squad Number: 17 Position: Defender, prefers Left Back Born: Farnborough 1995 Age: 19 Height: 1.78m 5′ 10” Weight: 74kg 11st 9lb Source: Academy Previous Clubs: Oxford 14 (0) [loan]

Plymouth 17 (1) [loan] Nationality: English International Appearances: England U18 1 (0) CAFC Friendlies: Played in all pre-season matches except Sint-Truiden and Maidstone. Chances of Playing: Along with K.A.G. Played more pre-season matches than any other player so must be in with a chance. Name: Ahmed KASHI Squad Number: 3 Position: Defensive Midfielder Born: Aubervilliers, France 1988 Age: 26 Height: 1.78m 5′ 10” Weight: 76kg 11st 13lb Source: Metz Date Signed: 21st July Deal: 3 years. Terms undisclosed Previous Clubs: LB Châteauroux 86 (3) Nationality: Algerian-French International Appearances: Algeria Full 1 (0) Trivia: Chose to play for Algeria rather than the country of his birth.

In France he is known as the Pitbull because of his tough tackling style. CAFC Friendlies: Played against West Ham, Southend and Bolton. Chances of Playing: The low squad number suggests he must be in the managers thoughts for a start. Name: Simon MAKIENOK Squad Number: 9 Position: Forward Born: Næstved, Denmark 1990 Age: 24 Height: 2.01m, 6′ 7” Weight: 94kg 14st 11lb Source: Palermo Deal: Loan Previous Clubs: Herfølge Boldklub 4 (0)

HB Køge 54 (22)

Brøndby IF 74 (35)

Palermo 4 (0) Nationality: Danish International Appearances: Denmark U19 8 (1)

Denmark U20 3 (0)

Denmark U21 13 (2)

Denmark Full 6 (0) Trivia: In the summer of 2013 Makienok turned down a £3.3m deal to move to an unnamed Russian club stating, ‘Money isn’t everything’.

When Simon makes his debut, he will become Charlton’s tallest ever player. Quote: “We now have a player who finally fills that number nine position we have been searching for”. GL CAFC Friendlies: Played against Genk, Sint-Truiden, Dagenham, West Ham and Bolton. Chances of Playing: Clearly brought in to take a place in the fist team. Likely to see him at some stage. Name: Dimitar MITOV Squad Number: 27 Position: Goalkeeper Born: 1997 Age: 18 Height: 1.91m 6′ 3” Weight: 76kg 11st 13lb Date Signed: 2013/14 scholarship. Nationality: Bulgarian International Appearances: Bulgaria U17 5 (0)

Bulgaria U19 3 (0) Trivia: In April 2015 Mitov set a possible world record when he scored from his own six yard box for Charlton’s U18s against Coventry. CAFC Friendlies: Full match against Dulwich with parts against Maidstone, Southend and Chelmsford. Chances of Playing: Has already had a couple of matches on the bench for Charlton. Both times Pope has been ahead of him. It’s likely that that will be the same tomorrow, but stranger things have happened. Name: Mouhamadou-Naby SARR Squad Number: 6 Position: Central Defender Born: Marseille 1993 Age: 21 Height: 1.96m, 6′ 5” Weight: 94kg 14st 11lb Source: Sporting Lisbon Deal: 5 years. Terms undisclosed Previous Clubs: Lyon 2 (0)

Sporting 12 (0) Nationality: French International Appearances: France U20 11 (0)

France U21 2 (0) Trivia: Son of former Marseille and PSG striker Boubacar SARR CAFC Friendlies: Bolton and Chelmsford Chances of Playing: Will he be match fit?