Where Huddersfield Town went wrong with ex-Bolton Wanderers striker amid Blackpool FC loan move
Former Southport manager Liam Watson discusses his time working with new Blackpool striker Dion Charles.
Dion Charles’ former coach Liam Watson states Blackpool will get the best out of the striker if they link him up with the right partner.
The 30-year-old has made the move to Bloomfield Road on a season-long loan from Huddersfield Town - where he has struggled for the past 18 months.
Having joined the Terriers on the back of a strong three-year stay with Bolton Wanderers, the Northern Ireland international has only scored four times in 55 outings at the Accu Stadium, and will be looking to rediscover his best form on the Fylde Coast.
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Charles’ football career started with Blackpool, but was released back in 2014, having never made a senior appearance in Tangerine.
After a period floating between the EFL and non-league, he found success with Southport - scoring 18 goals in 63 games across an 18 month stint at Haig Avenue.
Watson managed Charles during that time, and helped to convert him to his current role.
“When I inherited him, he had an injured hand for some reason and was out for about six weeks, so I got to know him,” he said.
“He’d always been a winger, but as the season went on I saw that he wasn’t as he’d switch off so many times and get done defensively, but he’d always go the other way and make something.
“His assets, his work rate, his strength, his power and his pace convinced me that he was a centre forward. If I look at Dion, he’s been lucky; not in the fact of how well he’s done but with the partners he’s had.
“At Southport he played alongside Jack Sampson - who was perfect for Dion. He then was lucky to find Colby Bishop as his partner at Accrington, as a pair they pushed each other and were a handful. He then moved with big Victor (Adeboyejo) at Bolton.
“He’s gone to Huddersfield and played in a 4-3-3, but he’s not the type of player you want to play down the middle on his own; you need him to play in a two and let him be himself, he’ll never let you down and will always give 100 percent.
“If you put the right person alongside him, and the manager has the right relationship with him, I think you’ll get really good returns.”