Non-League Side Confirm Charlton Athletic Loan

Hartlepool United have bolstered their ranks with the loan of Charlton Athletic winger and full-back Nathan Asiimwe on a short-term deal.

The 19-year-old has been a sporadic player in London for the past three seasons, only appearing once so far in the EFL Trophy. Asiimwe has been at The Addicks since he was nine, making his debut against Plymouth Argyle in 2022.

Last season saw him record 23 appearances under Dean Holden, but his minutes became further reduced under Michael Appleton. He made a few squads after former Luton Town boss Nathan Jones took charge at the end of the season, however he did not see a minute of action.

The Ugandan international now heads north to Hartlepool, who have made a decent start to life under Darren Sarll, winning three and drawing four of his nine games to put the club in 11th place and a point behind the play-off spots. Pools face Dagenham and Redbridge this weekend, having scored the fewest goals of any club outside the relegation zone.

Speaking to club media upon the arrival of Asiimwe in County Durham, Sarll said: “Nathan has been a long time coming. We thank Andy Scott and Charlton Athletic, and Nathan’s representative for being really patient and accommodating.

“In Nathan, we have another fantastic athlete who again shows that we are trying to learn as the games unfold. In the absence of Luke Charman, the ability to replenish the width in the team was a challenge and with Nathan we have cover for both flanks and even full-back positions.

“I expect with Nathan’s League One experience and his hunger and desire to break back into Charlton’s first team, we will be the recipient of a very good player.”

His parent club have used a back-three formation this season, with Kayne Ramsay occupying the right-hand side for all of the club’s third-tier games this season. The former Harrogate Town man joined on deadline day last winter, days before Jones’ appointment at The Valley was confirmed.

Writer’s View

Nathan Asiimwe hasn’t really had a look-in at Charlton Athletic since the arrival of the current manager, so a move away makes sense for all involved. With his age and experience in the third division, it wouldn’t have been far-fetched to see him in League Two at a club like Salford City or Morecambe for this season, so this is a coup for Hartlepool United.

With Kieron Freeman’s contract expiring at the club combined with his injury against Ebbsfleet United, a loan move for an EFL player like Asiimwe makes sense as a stop-gap which could become a longer-term move at Pools. Ex-Middlesbrough academy graduate Dan Dodds has also returned from his own fitness problems so it seems that the Addicks loanee will become a necessary option for the near future to rotate with the number two at United.

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