JON Fortune is discussing a deal with Phil Parkinson this afternoon which could see the former Charlton defender return to the club.

Fortune was released by Sheffield United during the summer but has been training with the Addicks in an attempt to win a contract.

Parky suggested last week he was more likely to end up playing elsewhere this season, although it now appears there has been a U-turn in SE7.

Assistant manager Tim Breacker said: “He played a few pre-season games and a couple of reserve games but not really at the right level for him to get him up to where he was previously.

“We are still working on that one but there might be a possibility of him signing and I think Parky is talking to him at the moment and then we are seeing how we go with that one.

“But it is a difficult situation where we know he needs to play games and obviously if he comes into us at the moment we are ok at that position.

“It will be a balance of bringing him in but getting him up to speed somehow, maybe getting games elsewhere under our banner if you like.”

Explaining Charlton’s change of heart on Fortune, Breacker said: “We are just seeing what we’ve got and where we are at with different positions which we need to cover. Obviously centre half is one of them.

“He was at the club when they were in a higher division and played in the Championship last season, so maybe his sights were to try and get back to that by using us to get fit.

“We were quite happy for that to happen but maybe now we are looking around and thinking he could cover that position.”

He added: “We’ve got young Yado Mambo as well, who has done alright and we want to push him on.

“It is an on-going situation but if we get everything right where he is happy, we are happy and we can get him back up to speed, then we could end up with a very good player on our books.

“But it is one of those where you have to get him up to speed and the only way he is going to do that is by playing games.

“At the moment he is not going to do that in our first team, so it could be the case we loan him out.”

Richard Murray told shareholders on Monday three players would be signed before the transfer deadline closes early next week and Breacker hinted Fortune might not be the only one likely to put to paper soon.

He said: “We are still working at trying to get a couple of things sorted out and that is the case at the moment.

“There is one more game to go until the deadline so time is of the essence.

“We are close on a couple of things but I can’t really say too much because the players are at other clubs.

“There is a couple of things we would like to try and do.

“The squad is getting there but it is not as strong as we would like it to be. We’ve got a good balance of experience and youth covering most positions now but we would like a little bit more if possible.”

“We are hoping there will be some movement before the weekend but obviously that deadline is getting closer.

“Part of it is we don’t want to risk them getting injured playing for their clubs this weekend with the deadline looming.”

Dagenham striker Paul Benson continues to be mooted as a likely candidate and Breacker suggested the deal is by no means dead yet.

“Paul Benson is one we’ve been linked with and spoken and made enquiries about, as we have others,” the assistant boss said.

“I can’t really say much more than that but he is one that we like and if possible, we would like to bring him in.”