Lee Bowyer – I’ll continue to rotate my Charlton side to keep them as fresh as possible

BY LOUIS MENDEZ

With a gruelling run of eight games in four weeks to contend with, Charlton boss Lee Bowyer says he will continue to rotate his side to try and keep them as fresh as possible.

The South Londoners made five changes for the 2-0 win at Northampton as Bowyer looks to ensure he gets the most out of his newly assembled squad.

There’s now a quick turnaround before former Charlton boss Karl Robinson brings his Oxford United side to The Valley on Tuesday evening and Bowyer said he will continue to ring the changes.

He explained: “That’s what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to use them all the best I can and pick and choose which games will suit them more than another. I had to rest Ben Watson today.

“Since he’s come in, he didn’t even have a pre-season, and then he’s went 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 90 minutes, 90 minutes. I rested him today. [Darren] Pratley the same, he’s done the same every game he’s played 90, 90. That was my thinking behind them two.

“[Andrew] Shinnie, bless him, he came in on the Friday and he’s played more games than he’s had training sessions. He’s another one that I thought you know what, try and come off him a little bit and hopefully they’ll be okay for Tuesday.

“Jake [Forster-Caskey], I thought he did really well again today, stepping in. That’s what I need to see, I need to see people that will grab that chance. Then they’ll all understand, they’ll know me, that I will rotate.

“I’ll try to look after the players the best I can. The good thing is that when you get called, you produce. Most of them did that today.”

PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS