Charlton manager Alan Pardew is this week attempting to sign a striker in time for Saturday’s match away to second placed Birmingham City.

As midfielder Darren Ambrose returned to his first club Ipswich for an initial two-month loan, with a view to a £200,000 permanent move in January, Pardew found room for manoeuvre within his budget to bring in a couple of players whom he believes will boost the squad.

The Addicks have been linked with Coventry City’s out-of-favour Michael Mifsud but Pardew dismissed speculation linking the club with Brighton’s Glenn Murray.

“Darren’s move to Ipswich has given me room to bring in one or two,” said Pardew. “It’s no secret that financially things are tight so someone had to be sacrificed and Darren was the option I’ve taken.

“Now, I want to bring in an offensive player because I believe the players would welcome the arrival of someone who is in a bit of form and who is capable of scoring a special goal.

“However, I accept it’s a bit unfair on the rest of the players to talk about new players after the performance they gave at Plymouth on Saturday.”

The return of Ambrose to Portman Road came as no surprise. With his contract up at the season’s end and no new offer on the table, the 24-year-old had dropped broad hints that he welcomed the interest of Ipswich and their manager Jim Magilton, with whom he played alongside during his first spell in 2001.

A product of their youth scheme, Ipswich sold him to Newcastle for £1 million in February 2003. Charlton signed him for £700,000 in July, 2005.

Jose Semedo, who produced a solid performance on his return to the midfield at Plymouth, is expected be fit to face Birmingham, despite being carried off on a stretcher at Home Park with a calf injury.

The club have loaned midfielders Scott Wagstaff and Rashid Yussuff to Blue Square Premier League club Northwich Victoria while striker Stuart Fleetwood scored his first goal for Brighton in Saturday’s 3-3 draw at home to Hartlepool in Saturday’s FA Cup first round tie at Withdean Stadium.