Charlton boss Lee Bowyer spoke to the press ahead of Saturday’s game against Plymouth Argyle.
The full press conference is available on Valley Pass.
Below are some of the talking points from his press conference.
On if speculation will distract his team…
“Nothing has changed. People try and put little barriers in front of what we are trying to achieve here all the time. Whenever I hear stuff, it’s always trying to put negative stuff around this football club but for me it is all positive. There is no reason for any negativity. Our players are getting recognised, whether we like it or not, on how they are progressing and improving and getting linked to other clubs. That’s just the way football is but nothing has changed, they know their goal, what we want from this season. That won’t change because a couple of people link me to another club.”
On Krystian Bielik…
“Krystian is training, so hopefully he’ll get through today and tomorrow, so hopefully he’ll be back in the squad, as long as he stays injury free.”
On Lewis Page…
“Pagey is training. He’s trained on Tuesday, we’ll see how he goes. As long as he doesn’t break down then he’ll be in and around it. It will be good to have him back. He’s very good out there, he gives us that width and he’s got good delivery so it will be good for our competition for Ben (Purrington).”
On Purrington…
“I think he’s done a great job. He’s steadied us down that side. He’s definitely something we needed. He gives us that balance we didn’t have for weeks. I think he’s done a great job. Defensively I think he’s done very well. In the final third he needs to work on his final ball but he’s a young lad and he knows that and he trys. Apart from that I’ve been very happy with him and the way he has settled into the side.”
On Jake Forster-Caskey…
“Jake is back training properly now, contact. We have to be careful with him. It will have to be a steady process with him but I think we’re full strength. Whether Jake plays depends on him. Without being stupid, if he can get to the level that the other lads are on then he will be in amongst it. Jake has got a lot of catch-up to do in a short space of time. I hope that he can, because I’d love to have him in and around the squad by the end of the season but it’s something we have to tread carefully with and just judge day-by-day, week-by-week and see where he gets to. He’s got to play for the U23s, there is still a way to go but the good thing is that he is back training with us.”
On Joe Aribo’s contract negotiations…
“We’re constantly trying to get that over the line. It’s been difficult but Joe loves it here. He knows that he’s learning, that he’s improving and he knows that this is a good place for him to carry on doing that. He knows that, he’s aware of that. There are just a few stumbling blocks that we are trying to get to the bottom of.”