Charlton Manager Lee Bowyer addressed the upcoming match this weekend, relishing the chance to face his former teammates, whilst also giving updates on Lyle Taylor and Chuks Aneke’s fitness.
When asked about facing Jonathan Woodgate, who had played with Bowyer at Leeds United for five years until 2003, the Addicks manager said: “We played together and travelled all over Europe together so, yeah. Looking forward to seeing Jonathan again on the weekend. Robbie Keane’s number two, obviously he was at Leeds as well when we played there so it will be nice to see them and it’s going to be a tough game.”
Bowyer also welcomed the challenge facing the team, as they prepare to travel to Boro this Saturday: “It’s never easy going there, it’s a tough place to go but we’ll turn up and we’ll try and do our best.”
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An injury update was also given this morning as the Charlton manager admitted Taylor and Aneke could be in the squad for the weekend: “We've got a couple coming back, so Lyle and Chuks hopefully will be on the bench if they can get through today and tomorrow then they will be on the bench. They’ve been outside for a while now, running and doing everything they need to do on the training pitch before joining in with us.
“Today’s the first day they will be joining in with us so obviously when they come back you can’t go mad and just throw them in there and let them play 90 minutes. We have to do it the right way, but the most important thing is that they’re back there with the rest of the group.”
Bowyer added: “A lot of them are outside running trying to get their fitness up before they come back to us. The intensity is high in training so Tomer [Hemed] is on his way back. [Beram] Kayal is back at Brighton getting treatment there. On the last international break he got injured and he’s had an injection so hopefully he’s not too long.”
On Jonny Williams, it seems as though the midfielder will not be available for this weekend, but is improving quickly: “Yeah hopeful, from what I hear he should be in around next week at Hull. Again, he’s outside running but he’s not ready to come with us yet, so we’re hopeful for Hull, he’ll be back.”
Article by Jay Cohen
