JOHN Ward revealed this morning that he had made an enquiry about signing Charlton striker Paul Benson.

JOHN Ward revealed this morning that he had made an enquiry about signing Charlton striker Paul Benson.

However, the U’s boss also admitted that a deal was unlikely to be done, especially as the player himself is currently injured.

Benson, 31, scored 10 goals for Charlton last season, including one in the Addicks’ 3-3 draw at Colchester on New Year’s Day.

The ex-Dagenham & Redbridge front-runner, who played a big part in helping the Daggers to win promotion to the Football League (2006-07) and later to League One via the play-offs (2009-10), has only made three senior appearances for Charlton this term, the last of them in the Carling Cup defeat to Preston.

Ward said: “I enquired about him (Benson), as I have enquired about a number of people.

“But he is injured at the moment and I think he has had an opportunity to go to other clubs and it has not happened.

“So I am not kind of hopeful that would happen at this moment,” added Ward.