Charles Looks For Instant Impact

ANTHONY Charles is ready to hit the ground running in order to aid Argyle’s fight to maintain their Football League status.

The 31-year-old Londoner has signed for John Sheridan’s Pilgrims until the end of the season after being released by fellow League 2 side Northampton.

Anthony, a left-sided defender, has already played 11 times for the Cobblers this season, including as recently as New Year’s Day, and knows the division and what Argyle are going through.

“This is a tight league,” he said. “You can go on a run of two, three, four games and you are in the top half of the table; if you lose them, you are in the bottom half.

“It’s just a matter of getting momentum, getting experience around you, and getting your confidence back up.

“The boys have done that on Saturday with a good result and we have got to try to build on that.

“I’m an experienced player, but still relatively young, and I’ve played in this league for many years.

“I had a similar experience [at Northampton] last year when we were fighting for our lives, and now they’ve moved on and are pushing for the play-offs.

“Players have come in and my games could have become limited so it was an opportunity for me to come away from there.

“The gaffer here asked me to come here and I said ’Yes’. A club the size of Plymouth – it wasn’t a difficult decision. It’s a challenge and something I’m looking forward to it.”

At 6ft-plus, Anthony brings some much needed height to the Argyle squad, but that is not his only attribute.

“I’m quick as well, still,” he said. “I like to head the ball, but I want to try to get the ball down and play.

“It was something I learnt as a kid, and grew up doing, and a lot of teams I’ve played at like to get the ball down and pass.

“If we can do that, in the right way with the right results, hopefully it can be beneficial to the way I play and the team, and we can all come together.”

Anthony becomes John Sheridan’s fourth recruit in the 12 days since he was appointed Carl Fletcher’s successor, following Ronan Murray, Guy Branston and Gozie Ugwu.

 “With the new gaffer coming in, and being January, there are going to be lots of changes: you need to do what you need to do to stay up,” said Anthony.

“No-one wants to be relegated.”