Charlton’s injury crisis has stretched Lee Bowyer’s squad to the limit, but the positive out of the mounting injury worries is that the younger players are getting game time.
With as many as 11 first team players injured the team’s Sparrow Lane base is resembling more a hospital than a training ground.
Academy products Albie Morgan, Alfie Doughty and Josh Davison have all featured for the Addicks in recent weeks with some success in what has been the positive to come out of Charlton’s poor run of form.
Tom Lockyer is a man who has experienced a lot this season, the highs of Charlton’s early season form and Wales’ Euro 2020 qualification, to the lows of the Addick’s current plight, but he’s more than confident these run of games will make the side, and the crop of younger talent, stronger.
“You don’t want to make excuses, because you build a squad to cope with injuries, but I can’t think of a time in my career with it being this bad,” he admitted.
“We are the walking wounded at the minute.
“I think the ones that have come in have been fantastic.
“I always think in football, a lot is down to luck.
“I only got my chance because of a few injuries, you come in, do well and take your opportunity, and that’s what’s happening at the minute.
“It’s not to say if there wasn’t injuries they wouldn’t be playing, but they’ve got a chance to come and show what they can do, and I think they’ve been superb.
“Alfie did superb on the weekend when he came on, and again at Luton.
“Everyone knows how good Albie (Morgan) is and he’s getting fitter.
“And Josh has a great future too.
“Everybody knows how good a reputation Charlton have of bringing kids through so it doesn’t surprise me.”
“What we’ve built in the changing room is that everyone is a winner.
“No one’s happy when we lose, we all get a bit grouchy.
“We will have bad runs, but we have to stick together and get out the other side.”
READ:Charlton performances 'acceptable' given injury situation says Bowyer
READ:Tom Lockyer eager to fix Charlton's defensive frailties
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