China captain Zheng Zhi said he do his utmost to help Charlton Athletic out of trouble.

"I already feel pressure," Zheng told the popular Chinese portal Sina.com. "Charlton's ranking in the English Premier League doesn't look good. I will get used to English matchplay as soon as possible and help the club out of the relegation zone."

The club announced on Friday that Zheng had joined Charlton on loan until the end of the season.

The deal, coming into effect when the transfer window opens next Monday, also gives the relegation-threatened club an option on making the 26-year-old midfielder's move permanent although specific contract details remained undisclosed.

"The versatile China captain will join from Shandong Luneng initially for the rest of the 2006-07 campaign," Charlton's Web site said.

Zheng is Charlton's first signing since new manager Alan Pardew took charge of the club last week.

Charlton, who have had three managers this season, lie second from bottom of the table with 13 points from 20 matches.

Zheng had a two-day trial at The Valley in late November after leading Shandong to the double titles of Chinese Super League (CSL) and Chinese FA Cup last season and winning his second CSL Player of the Year. He won the title for the first time in 2003. Zheng scored 21 goals for Chinese champion Shandong Luneng in 2006. He was named China captain in October.

"I won't deny I'm the best footballer in China, but it's only in China," Zheng said in local paper. "At the moment the most important thing for me is to keep my feet in the Premier League first."

He will become the third Chinese player to play in the Premier League after Manchester City defender Sun Jihai and Sheffield United midfielder Li Tie.

(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2006)