Charlton midfielder Jake Forster-Caskey set for lengthy spell out after suffering serious knee injury

Charlton’s injury-crisis has deepened, with midfielder Jake Forster-Caskey set for a lengthy spell on the side lines – one that is expected to last the whole season.

The 24-year-old box-to-box man, a vital cog in Lee Bowyer’s side, suffered a severe injury to his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) during training on Thursday.

The exact length of Forster-Caskey’s absence remains to be seen but the club is preparing for a long absence. Team mate Billy Clarke has been missing since mid-December last-year after rupturing his ACL.

It’s understood the club delayed announcement of the former Brighton man’s absence to try to avoid giving an advantage to Sunderland ahead of today’s game.

Forster-Caskey joins Clarke, Igor Vetokele, Tariqe Fosu and Ben Reeves on the long-term injury list – with the Addicks squad looking decidedly short ahead of today’s opening day clash against the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light.