Holland waits patiently in the wings

Last updated : 08 November 2005 By Charlton mad

Holland told The Mercury last week: "It's a case of getting my head down now, doing well in training, for the reserves and when I'm called on. I'm staying upbeat and battling for my place."

"I spoke to Curbs and told him I wanted to stay and fight for my place and he was happy with that. He told me I was a part of his plans, and that it was a long season and I'd get my chance.

"I still feel I have a lot to offer at this level - there's more to come. I spoke to a paper in Ipswich and said that one day I'd like to go back there. But that wasn't a hint that I wanted to go out on loan. That's not the case."

Meanwhile, Charlton have lost two in a row since coming from behind to beat Portsmouth at Fratton Park a fortnight ago. With seven or eight clubs bunched close together in the top half of the Premiership at the moment, dropped points from a dismal away day at Blackburn on Saturday which followed a home defeat against Bolton, has seen the Addicks slip down to eighth in the table.

"When we don't win it obviously puts pressure on one or two people and we'll have to see what happens. I'm not going to lose sight of what we have achieved this season though. We've had a great start and our points total is decent," said Alan Curbishley.