Parker thrives on competition

Leo Spall13 April 2012

Competition for places in Charlton's midfield has rarely been more intense but Scott Parker is refusing to panic as he returns to the squad following suspension.

Manager Alan Curbishley has just signed Chris Bart-Williams from Nottingham Forest until the end of the season on a free transfer and club captain Mark Kinsella is expected to return in the next couple of weeks after a knee injury.

They both play in central midfield and Parker also faces competition from Graham Stuart and Claus Jensen, but he feels more established at Charlton than ever.

The 21-year-old hopes to play against Derby tonight at The Valley after being suspended for the 2-1 FA Cup fourth-round defeat against Walsall on Saturday and said: "I am confident I can get back in and keep my place.

"I think midfield is one of the strongest positions we have got at the club but I have had a good run in the side and I feel part of it more than ever now.

"I set myself quite high standards and the only pressure I feel I put on myself because I want to do as well as I can in every game that I play."

One of the reasons Parker views his situation in this way is the bitter experiences he has had at Charlton in the past.

He was seen as a star of the future after appearing in a McDonald's advert showing off his football skills as a 13-year-old and made his debut for the club aged 16.

But before he went on loan to Norwich for six games last season, he had not made much of an impact in the Charlton first team and was beginning to think he may have to leave The Valley permanently to further his career.

"Before I went on loan I was training all the time and it sometimes felt like I was not preparing for anything because I was not playing," Parker said.

"But the experience I had at Norwich was great and showed me what first-team football was all about.

"They had a good spell and a bad one in that time and I realised what some of football's highs and lows feel like.

"It showed me a few things that I had to work on in my game and things seem to have gone really well for me since."

Parker has now made more than 40 appearances for Charlton and become an England Under-21 international.

He hopes to be a part of David Platt's squad for the European Championship in Switzerland in May and has been encouraged by Sven-Goran Eriksson's willingness to select young players for the senior team.

Parker, who is both a good tackler and passer of the ball, believes experience is the key to making him a better player now and that playing regularly will improve his international prospects.

A return to the Charlton side tonight would therefore help him fulfil his England ambitions and that is likely because Jensen is doubtful with a knee injury.

Curbishley's other new worry is defender Mark Fish, who may miss tonight's game through illness, but the manager has made it clear to his fit players that they need to beat managerless Derby.

Charlton have lost their last three games. Parker added: "It is a massive game for us because we have not been on the best of runs and the league is so tight this season that even though we are mid-table we are only six points away from the relegation zone.

"We have got Middlesbrough on Sunday, who are down there with Derby, and those games are crucial so we can put some daylight between us and them."

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