Collins Sichenje: Charlton Coach Hints at Possible Return Date for Injured Kenyan Defender

Harambee Stars defender Collins Sichenje will likely be back in action in April following the latest update issued by his Charlton Athletic coach Nathan Jones.

Sichenje has missed the last three games for Charlton due to injury and will be absent for a fourth match in a row on Saturday when The Addicks take on Norwich City in the English Championship.

The defender suffered an injury when he played his third game for his new side against Zak Vyner’s Wrexham on February 28 and was not in the squad as they took on Birmingham City before Jones explained that he had suffered a setback due to increased workload.

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While looking forward to the game against Norwich, Jones said he expects a near-full house after the international break as a number of players are nearing their recovery.

"The squad is looking very good, we're getting a few closer. After this game we have a two-week break where we can look at to get as many players as we possibly can back for the final push,” said Jones, whose team has eased their relegation fears and are looking to finish higher than their current 18th position on the 24-team table.

Sichenje had played three straight games for Charlton since signing from Serbian club Vojvodina in January, making his debut against Southampton, when he played 90 minutes, before getting 55 minutes against West Brom and then 77 minutes in the clash with Wrexham.

However, Jones admitted that he had taken a huge gamble with the Kenyan which did not pay off as he gave him many minutes too soon, resulting in the injury.

“Sichenje was a victim of circumstance. He played 90 minutes [v Southampton]. We put him on for the West Brom game, Lloyd [Jones] went down after 20 odd minutes,” Jones said of the circumstances leading to Sichenje’s injury.”

“We had to play him, put him back out. Burke went down after 11 minutes [v Wrexham], so we had to play him. Then he picked up something from there.”

That saw Sichenje ultimately miss out on a Harambee Stars call-up for the upcoming FIFA Series in Rwanda next week, where Kenya will take on the hosts, Estonia and Grenada.

The upcoming international break is scheduled between March 23 and 31, a period in which Sichenje will be hoping to accelerate his recovery.