CHARLTON Athletic boss Nathan Jones wants Bim Pepple to keep on shining for Southend United – but only after Saturday’s FA Cup clash.
Jones signed the 21-year-old striker from Canadian side Cavalry during his time as Luton Town manager.
And Jones remains interested in tracking Pepple’s progress.
“We signed Aribim back in 2022,” recalled Jones.
“He was a bit of a project for us in terms of getting him young because he was the profile of a striker we liked.
“He came in to the football club, we kept him around a little bit and then found him a loan.
“It will be interesting to see how he develops.”
Pepple is with the Shrimpers on loan from Luton.
And Jones revealed the plan was never to immediately include the forward in the Hatters’ first team.
“He was never going to go into the first team straight away,” said Jones.
“He was always going to be a project and someone we could develop.
“He had the raw attributes we liked and it’s good to see him playing for a good club.
“Hopefully after Saturday he can have a really successful time at Southend.”
Like Pepple, Jones also had his own spell playing for the Shrimpers.
But the former left-back looks back on his spell at Roots Hall with mixed memories.
“It was mixed but I really enjoyed it,” said Jones.
“I thought I had a really good first year but the second wasn’t as good and it ended up with me going out on loan.
“The third year was probably my best year in terms of when I played some of my best football and I enjoyed that year more than anything, getting player of the year and things like that.
“I really enjoyed my time there on the whole but it was mixed.”
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