Dean Cox would, in another sporting life, make a rather good cox.

He is the right size and the right sort of character to bellow instructions to a bunch of big oarsmen.

He also enjoys, if you get my drift, a good row.

Cox has been in choppy waters these past few days. Should Dean Wilkins allow him back on the good ship Albion or leave him floating overboard again when Gillingham visit Withdean on Friday?

That is the dilemma facing the manager following Cox's eye-catching return to action at Worthing yesterday.

On the one hand, how can Wilkins change a team which performed so well and won so conclusively at Swindon on Saturday in Cox's absence for disciplinary reasons?

On the other, can he afford to leave out for a second time one of his most gifted players?

Cox's temperament is under scrutiny for his involvement in a dressing room flare-up after the Nottingham Forest defeat and subsequent banishment from a training session. But there is no denying his talent.

He scored a smashing goal and had a hand in two others, albeit one of them inadvertently on Charlton's behalf.

You sensed the miniature magician meant business. Taking his customary place on the left wing, he wore a short-sleeved shirt on a bitterly cold afternoon.

It took Cox only seven minutes to make his lively mark with a pinpoint cross which Nathan Elder met with a well-placed header.

The muscular former Billericay striker's eighth goal in his last 11 appearances for the Reserves was wiped out within six minutes.

Cox brought down Scott Wagstaff on the edge of the box and Charlton captain Josh Wright, back from a loan spell with Barnet, expertly curled the ensuing free-kick up and around the defensive wall into the roof of the net.

Anything Wright could do, Cox could do better. A minute before the break he cut inside onto his right foot and bent a delicious drive into the far top corner from just outside the penalty area.

It resembled in timing, range and style the goal scored by his big buddy, Jake Robinson, which doubled Albion's lead at Swindon.

Charlton remained in contention deep into the match, thanks only to the excellence of their goalkeeper, Robert Elliot.

Cox, Doug Loft, Michael Kamara, David Martot and Paul Reid were all denied by Elliot's safe hands and bravery.

It was a pity for him that his failure to reach up and cut out a cross from Loft enabled Alex Revell to volley the third goal Albion deserved from point blank range with 16 minutes left.

Revell was going to be substituted in the closing stages but referee Ian Cooper refused to let him leave, a knock-on effect of one of the unluckiest bookings of the season.

Youth team captain Andy Pearson, due to be on the bench, started instead in the centre of defence after Kerry Mayo suffered a calf injury in the warm-up.

Cooper was not informed of the last-minute change, so Pearson was cautioned.

Albion asked Cooper at half-time whether they could still use three substitutes. He answered in the affirmative but had a change of heart during the second half.

Pearson's unorthodox punishment added to the entertainment, plenty of which was provided by the little man on Albion's left flank.

Now it is over to the other Dean, who was there to watch, to make the call.

Albion Reserves (4-4-2): Sullivan; Kamara, Pearson, Butters, Rents; Martot, Reid, Loft (Skinner 79), Cox; Revell, Elder (Gatting 75). Unused subs: Gargan, Pelling.

Do you think Cox has played himself back into Dean Wilkins' plans for Friday?