Alfie Doughty is set to be announced as a Stoke City player today, though there will be no return to Charlton Athletic on loan.

Doughty has caught the eye after a number of impressive performances for Charlton over the past year-and-a-half.

The left-sided midfielder scored twice and added three assists in the Championship last season, and has a goal and two assists in seven League One outings this term.

Doughty - whose contract at the Valley is set to run out at the end of this season - looks set to seal a move away from Charlton this afternoon.

Stoke City have led the race to sign the 21-year-old for some time, and there has been talk of a potential return to Charlton on loan for the rest of the season.

But according to Richard Cawley of the South London Press, Doughty won't be returning to Charlton on loan as part of the deal, with a move to Stoke likely to be announced today.

This is down to Doughty's injury situation, with the midfielder going through rehab after picking up a hamstring problem in late October.

He's since yet to feature for the club, and Charlton will now have two loan slots available to them before the transfer window closes.

The Verdict

This is probably the best move for Charlton.

Doughty is out injured, and Bowyer has previously spoken about how he feels the midfielder may not be the same player when he returns.

They now have the opportunity to go out and bring in two players on loan, and they could make a real difference in terms of the race for promotion.