Birmingham v Charlton

Alan Pardew has admitted he overhauled training and has been tougher on his Charlton players as he seeks an end to the malaise which has dropped the club too close for comfort to the Championship relegation zone.

Ahead of Saturday's difficult test at promotion-favourites Birmingham, he disclosed: "I’ve been tougher on the players because they needed to be toughened up. There are players here who needed to be shaken.

"I’ve changed the type of sessions we were doing and we’re focusing on the type of formation we’re playing now rather than the two formations we were switching between before.

"The players are doing more hours and coming in every day, which they will continue to do until I feel we’ve turned the situation around.

"They have accepted it and they understand why the changes have been made."

Meanwhile, the club are racing against the clock in an effort to make a couple of loan signings in time to make their debuts on Saturday.

Pardew, who earlier this week found room for manoeuvre within his budget to bring in two players having allowed midfielder Darren Ambrose to join Ipswich on loan, described negotiations as an "ongoing process".

He added: "I’m trying to sort the right price for the right kind of player. Essentially, we need someone in-form who can give us a lift."

Striker Luke Varney, who has managed just two goals this season, is doubtful for the Birmingham match with the knee injury that forced him to come off in last week’s 2-2 draw at Plymouth.

Fellow striker Chris Dickson, who came on as late substitute at Plymouth, is out with a knee injury sustained at Home Park.