|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Hameur Bouazza |
|
Charlton pounced to sign Fulham's Hameur Bouazza on a season-long loan on Saturday morning, just hours before the Addicks start the 2008/09 season at home to Swansea City (3pm).
The deal was completed in time for the winger to be available for Alan Pardew's squad for the home clash with the Swans. He has been given squad number 34.
Bouazza joined the Cottagers last summer from Watford, but has found his first-team chances limited under new boss Roy Hodgson.
As a result, and following several weeks of negotiations, Craven Cottage chief Hodgson has allowed Bouazza to move across London on a temporary basis, with the French-born Algeria international now in the running to feature for the Addicks on the opening day of the Championship campaign.
Bouazza started his career with Watford in 2003, going on to score two goals in 37 league games for the Hornets in his first two seasons.
His time at Vicarage Road, where Charlton play next weekend, really came to fruition in the 2005/06 campaign when he netted three goals in 19 appearances after battling back from a broken metatarsal to help the Hertfordshire outfit into the Premier League via the play-offs.
The 23-year-old scored eight league and cup goals during Watford's return to the top flight, but couldn't prevent the Hornets from returning to the Championship at the end of the campaign.
His form in the Premier League didn't go unnoticed, though, and Fulham swooped for his services that summer, signing the ace on a four-year deal for an initial fee of £3m.
After starting three games for the Cottagers, Bouazza was sidelined with a dislocated shoulder, but returned to score his first goal for Fulham in a 3-3 draw with Manchester City at Craven Cottage in September 2007.
The Algeria international made his debut for his country in February 2007 against Libya, notching his first goal in a 3-2 victory over Mali later that year. In all, he has five caps.
Bouazza is the second Fulham winger to join the Addicks on loan in 2008 after Lee Cook's brief spell with Charlton last season.