Djorkaeff loan looks a winner

'I didn't expect the level to be like this in England,' admitted the World Cup and European Championship medal winner.

' It's a surprise but a good surprise after playing in France, Italy and Germany. Every Saturday is so exciting, it's a hard game all right but a very, very exciting one.

'If I continue to play like this for Bolton I am sure I will be in the French national team in June. But Bolton is my present, I'm here to help them, while France is in the future. I didn't come here thinking France first and then Bolton.'

Whatever Djorkaeff's motives, however, it is difficult to whisper the World Cup, even at such a crucial time for Bolton and others dicing with the drop. For Charlton midfielder Scott Parker, his side's rise to the Premiership's upper reaches has given the 21-year-old the platform from which to press his international credentials.

'I've heard that Sven Goran Eriksson has watched me a few times,' said Parker. 'There is nothing better than the national coach showing interest. It's a great incentive.'

Parker, though, looked as weary as his team-mates at The Valley. Manager Alan Curbishley believes the season's slog is catching up with his side, who have been without midfielders Mark Kinsella and Claus Jensen for much of the campaign. They have coped admirably thus far but will not relish an intensive Easter weekend with games against Liverpool and Arsenal.

Charlton made life hard for themselves on Saturday after Jason Euell missed a first-half penalty which would have wiped out Djorkaeff's 15th-minute opener.

The Frenchman got his second from a 30-yard free-kick which deflected in off the Charlton wall and although half-time substitute Jonatan Johansson closed the deficit with a close-range header in the 52nd minute, Charlton ran out of ideas.

'We should have got something out of the game,' said Parker. 'We knew they were going to scrap but we weren't sharp enough.'