Charlton star Ben Thatcher is determined to end his seven-month absence and return to action - and do enough to earn a new deal at The Valley.A knee injury has kept Thatcher - signed from Manchester City in January 2007 - stranded on the sidelines since the end of August.

But the 32-year-old is on the verge of a competitive return for the Addicks and is out to impress boss Alan Pardew.

"I hope to be back playing soon," Thatcher told the club's official website. "I'm as good as you can get away from first-team football.

"You need to play first-team games, you can't replicate that, no matter how much running I do on the training ground or how many reserve games I play. The first team is a different speed and a different intensity. Until I get there and play a few games I won't be back to full fitness.

"I'm out of contract in the summer, so all I'm concerned about is getting fit and getting in the first team and trying to earn a new contract - whether that be in the Premier League or the Championship."

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