Highlights

• Connor Wickham failed to fulfill his early potential despite high expectations and big-money moves to Premier League clubs.
• Ipswich Town's decision to sell Wickham for £8million proved to be smart business as he struggled to make an impact.
• Wickham's career has been marred by injuries and inconsistent performances, but at 31, he still has time to turn things around.

Connor Wickham is currently on the books of League One side Charlton Athletic after spending the majority of the season without a club, but it hasn't always been like this for the striker.

The Hereford-born attacker was once tipped to become a star, and after making a name for himself in the Championship as a youngster, he earned a Premier League move to Sunderland in 2011, before a further move to Crystal Palace in 2015.

After coming through the ranks at Ipswich Town, Sunderland paid £8million to sign the 18-year-old, and it proved a divisive move for the Tractor Boys' fanbase.

Plenty of the club's supporters wanted to keep the youngster at the club as he was clearly very talented, but others believed it was the right move to cash in on him - and in hindsight, it's proved to be.

Receiving £8million for Connor Wickham was a great deal for Ipswich Town

Connor Wickham had burst onto the scene at Portman Road, and he made his debut just a couple of days after his 16th birthday.

He went onto win the Football League Young Player of the year award in 2010, and scored nine goals in 37 Championship games during the 2010/11 season, a very good return considering his age.

However, the move to Sunderland never really helped Wickham's career reach new heights, and it probably led to his development stagnating.

He made 16 Premier League appearances during his first season at the Stadium of Light, scoring just once, before failing to score in 12 Premier League games the following season where he was also loaned out to Sheffield Wednesday.

Further loan spells with both Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds followed during the 2013/14 season, but Wickham found some form in the Premier League for the Black Cats, scoring five in 15 games.

The 2014/15 season was his last at the Stadium of Light, and he played 36 Premier League games, missing just two, but only scored five times, taking his tally to 15 in 91 for the club.

Given the fee they paid to bring him to the club, this wasn't a good enough return, and in hindsight, it looks like very good business from Ipswich.

The Tractor Boys cashed in at the right time, and £8million for a Championship club in 2011 was a lot of money, so Ipswich would have been pleased with their business.

Connor Wickham has never really fulfilled his potential

Given his potential as a youngster, it's fair to say that Connor Wickham has never really fulfilled his potential, despite a number of years in the Premier League.

After leaving Sunderland in 2015, he joined Crystal Palace, where he made just 50 appearances, scoring 11 times in six seasons.

Wickham was unable to nail down a regular place in the Eagles' side, and struggled with injuries, so was never really able to get any momentum and build a run of games.

Further permanent deals with Preston, MK Dons, Forest Green Rovers, Cardiff, and now Charlton Athletic have followed since his release from Crystal Palace, and other than a purple patch at Forest Green, he's not done too much to impress.

Ipswich Town supporters will be fully aware that they saw Wickham at his best, and whilst cashing in on him for £8million was a controversial move at the time, it proved to be fantastic business.

With a short-term deal at Charlton until the summer, Wickham really needs to find a permanent, long-term home this summer, regardless of the division, and put a run of games together.

At 31, there's still plenty of time left in his career, and he showed at Forest Green that he can still do a job if given a run of games.