Thatch: Pardew’s A Pleasure

Left-back Thatcher has been sidelined with a knee injury for the last three matches, which have seen the boys close to within touching distance of climbing out of the Premiership drop zone.

The 31-year-old was Pardew’s first permanent signing as Charlton manager during the January transfer window and is itching to get fit in time for Friday’s trip to Manchester City so he can help his new boss achieve his aim.

‘He’s a pleasure to work with,’ Thatcher told the club’s official website.

‘I’ve been really impressed by Mr Pardew and [assistant] Mr [Phil] Parkinson, the whole set-up, the whole attitude to where we want to be and what we’ve got to achieve. It’s been thoroughly enjoyable.

‘Everyone had written us off before Alan came here but now we’ve gone on this run. And with Sheffield United losing their main goalscorer in Rob Hulse, that’s a huge blow for them.

‘They’re on a bit of a dip in form at the moment and we’re on the way up, so I know which camp I’d rather be in.’

The full-back added: ‘Three clean sheets for us on the bounce is fantastic, especially at the stage of the season we’re at now.

‘We’ve picked up a bit of momentum and everyone’s now looking over their shoulders half expecting us to win and get results every week.

‘We’ve got into this winning mentality, but if we do get beaten we mustn’t get too down or disappointed because the next game will come.

‘We’re on a good little run and we’ve got to let it continue for as long as we can and hopefully it will be enough to see us through to the end of the season.

‘It’s up to us. Premier League football is what we all want to play at the end of the day – no-one here wants to play in the Championship.’