Rodgers coy on Carroll plans

Charlton manager Chris Powell admits his side are still not clear of relegation trouble in the Championship.

The Addicks' goalless draw at Brighton on Tuesday took them to 51 points, four clear of the drop zone and with a better goal difference than most of the teams below them.

But Powell said: "With six games to go for us I don't think any manager can put a limit on it because everyone else is gaining points in the bottom three.

"We are only on 51 so I think we need a few more wins under our belt and we will be looking just to make sure we pick up a point or three in every game now.

"It's just one of those seasons where it's going to keep everyone interested right until the end. When you look at the number of sides all bunched together it's going to be really tight all the way.

"We can only care about ourselves and pick up three points at home and a point away or vice versa. It's about getting as many points as we can in each and every game and we will be looking to do that."

Allen, who joined the Reds from Swansea in August 2012, has undergone surgery after struggling with a shoulder injury for much of 2013.

And while Allen knows his form has deteriorated recently, the 23-year-old is confident he can rise up the pecking order soon.

"The fans have definitely not seen the best of me yet," Allen told the club's official website.

"It's no secret that recent months haven't gone great for me. I am confident and faithful that next season I can perform a lot better.

"Unfortunately this season's a write-off in regards to the injury but the plan is, and I've got a bit of time, to make sure it's right over the summer break in time for pre-season.

"It had been there for a while so I'd almost grown used to it but it's got worse and worse and I was probably kidding myself by not getting it sorted a bit sooner.

"It's difficult to say whether it affected my game - I don't want to use it as an excuse, that's for sure. But I'd like to see how it is once it's fixed and I'd like to think it's going to help me massively.

"I'm excited and looking forward to being 100 per cent fit. These things can often play on your mind. Hopefully this will bring out the best in me."

Carroll is currently on a season-long loan at West Ham after finding himself surplus to requirements under Rodgers.

Reports have suggested Rodgers was considering offering Carroll a lifeline at Liverpool next season if he accepted that he would not a be a regular starter at Anfield.

Rodgers admits Liverpool have been keeping tabs on Carroll's progress at Upton Park, but was remaining coy on whether or not the striker would be handed a second chance at Anfield next season.

"We've monitored it very closely," Rodgers told Fox. "We've had representatives from Liverpool at most of the games.

"It's obviously been a difficult season for Andy because his initial idea was he wanted to go out and play every week, but unfortunately for him he's picked up some injuries since he's been away.

"But he scored two very good goals at the weekend and he'll be looking to finish the season on a high and achieve the objectives he wanted to before he went out."

On Carroll's future beyond the end of the current campaign, Rodgers added: "It's nothing to discuss now. It's something we'll speak about at the end of the season."