Charlton Athletic will be without striker Miles Leaburn for the remainder of the season, boss Nathan Jones has confirmed.
The 21-year-old has suffered a quad injury and will not feature again during the Addicks’ League One promotion push. Leaburn has been a central figure in Charlton’s campaign, making 32 appearances in all competitions and scoring 10 goals.
His absence comes at a crucial stage, with the South London side currently fourth in the table and aiming to secure a return to the Championship via the play-offs. Leaburn’s contribution has been instrumental in that push, and his injury poses a significant setback for Jones’ squad.
Jones confirms injury timeline
Speaking via the club’s official website, Jones confirmed the extent of the blow and provided an update on other injured players.
“Miles is furthest away, Daniel (Kanu) is not too far and Ashley’s (Maynard-Brewer) actually back training. We won’t see Miles for the rest of this season, but with Daniel we really hope we do.”
Leaburn, under contract at The Valley until June 2026, has already reached the 30-goal mark for Charlton across all competitions in just 90 appearances. Having come through the academy after joining from Chelsea in 2019, he has emerged as one of the club’s brightest prospects.
Leaburn’s Injury Hell
The striker, son of Charlton legend Carl, was sidelined for nearly 10 months after suffering the injury in a 2-1 victory over Cheltenham Town 2023. Although he returned to the first team in October, coming off the bench in a 3-2 defeat at Bristol Rovers, Leaburn admitted he was still on the journey back to full sharpness.
“I had to mature mentally quite quickly. I had to stay positive. I was the only person injured at the time and it was just me in the gym. It was a long process with a lot of setbacks. Originally I thought it would be five months and it ended up being 10…
“During the injury, I thought: ‘Am I going to be the same player? Am I going to be able to do what I was doing before?’ They were big questions that were weighing on me mentally. I don’t think I’m the same yet – even now – but I’m getting back slowly. I still have a way to go.”
Writer’s view
This is a huge loss for Charlton at a pivotal point in the season. Leaburn’s presence up top has given the Addicks physicality, movement, and a reliable goal threat. With his absence confirmed for the run-in, the burden will fall on others to step up – potentially including Daniel Kanu, if he returns in time.
The injury won’t just be felt on the pitch, but also in the dressing room, where Leaburn’s rise has been a beacon of the club’s youth development. For now, Charlton must adapt quickly as the promotion race heats up.
