Lee Bowyer fears the chances of keeping star striker Lyle Taylor at the club beyond January are fading with each game.

The forward netted his fourth goal in as many games in the 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest at The Valley on Wednesday night, enhancing his reputation as one of the most lethal strikers in the division.

Out of contract next summer, but with a contract on the table with the Addicks unsigned, Bowyer feels they can't compete with some of the league's financial big hitters.

Charlton fended off bids for Taylor all summer, with Brentford reportedly offering £4million for the former AFC Wimbledon man on deadline day, but Bowyer it seems is resigned to losing the forward when the window opens again in four months time.

“I think it will be impossible to keep him,” he admitted.

“We started discussions [about a new contract] before the deadline, but it’s tough when you have other clubs offering what they do in this division.

"How can we compete? We can’t. That’s the reality of it.

"But we have him at the moment and he’s scored four in four.

"I’m just going to enjoy working with him whilst I can.

“That’s the nature of the game, if he goes and scores ten goals between now and January, someone will obviously come in with probably more than what they offered in the summer.

"For me, he’s. a twenty goal a season striker no matter what division.

"The way we play suits him because it isn’t just his goals.

"His physicality, he holds the ball up.

"He’s got everything.

"We’re going to try and sign him but it’s going to be hard. It’s a difficult situation.

“It’s a difficult one, because he’s a very good striker and everyone wants good strikers.

"I’m just thankful we’ve got him now because the owner did us a favour and turned down a big bid for him. He can only keep scoring."

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Bowyer made his talisman captain for the televised game, an honour the 29-year old deserved according to his boss.

"Normally I would have probably gone with a centre-half, a tough leader from the back organising. But I think Lyle has earned that, the right to walk the team out. He was outstanding from start to finish again. We’re very lucky to have him.”

“His job is to score goals, but he brings more than that.

"His work rate out of possession.

"He’s great around the place. That’s why I made him captain tonight. I think he deserved to walk the team out.He leads from the front."