Lyle Taylor's 45-minute cameo in the 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough was the “only positive”, according to Lee Bowyer, as Charlton’s star striker made his long-awaited return from injury.

After being sidelined for several weeks with a knee ligament problem, the 29-year-old came on as a half-time substitute for new signing Joe Ledley at the Riverside Stadium.

Taylor is still one of the club’s leading scorers this season with five to his name, but he could not add to that tally after George Saville struck Boro into the lead after just one minute.

Bowyer was pleased to get as much as he did from Taylor, even if it was only meant to be half an hour, and will aim to do the same on Tuesday against Huddersfield Town.

READ: Bowyer blasts lacklustre Charlton in wake of Boro defeat

He said: “The only the positive from today is that Lyle came on and played 45 minutes. That's the only positive for me, apart from that it was a bad day.

“We just need some of them bodies to come back and today Lyle came back. Okay, he was a little bit off it but you can see what we missed!

“He fights and competes for every ball and puts dangerous balls in the box.

“To be fair, the ball that he hit got a good block from the defender – otherwise that would have ended up in the back of the net – but the most important thing is that he's back and has got 45 minutes in him and we'll try and do the same on Tuesday.”

Meanwhile, there was further bad news to be had as Chuks Aneke and Erhun Oztumer are set to spend time in the treatment room.

Oztumer has picked up an ankle ligament injury that will see him stay out for a “couple of weeks”, Bowyer says, while Aneke has a muscular issue.

READ: Middlesbrough extend Charlton's winless run with quickfire goal

Bowyer added: “Chuks has now had five different muscle injuries since the summer, [they are] not the same muscles. It’s not good.

“We were hoping that he was going to come off the bench [against Boro].

“We'll regroup and dust ourselves down and we go again Tuesday, and we'll be better Tuesday. The lads will be fiery and up for it.

“To be fair, that's the first time I've not been happy with their work rate so that's not bad going after 18 months! It's just disappointing because I felt this was a place we could come and take the three points.”