Lee Bowyer praises impact of Chelsea loanee on Charlton debut – and says more signings are imperative

BY LOUIS MENDEZ

Charlton boss Lee Bowyer was pleased with the impact Chelsea loanee Conor Gallagher made on his Addicks debut – and says it’s imperative that he adds more bodies to his squad before the window closes.

19-year-old midfielder Gallagher, who joined on a season-long loan from Stamford Bridge yesterday, impressed after he came off the bench midway through the second-half of the 2-1 opening day with at Blackburn Rovers.

“The kid can play,” said Bowyer of his latest acquisition.

“We have to work with him, he only came in yesterday, but I thought he did really well when he came in. Such a young lad and I thought he did really well. I don’t think he gave the ball away. He nearly scored. He looked good.

“Conor is a good lad and Chelsea know they are sending him somewhere where he is going to improve and play men’s football. Get to learn.

“I’ve just said to the players ‘we’ve done well and come to a side who finished mid-table last year and win away from home and we’re going to get stronger because we’re going to bring in more bodies.’

“I’ve got to bring in four or five, that’s a fact. We have to. Once we do that, hopefully we’ll get the right personnel and we’ll be fine.

“If I’m going to get someone who is a nine (out of ten) for two weeks and then a five for the next seven – there’s no point. He won’t fit in here. It has to be someone who is willing to work hard and put his body on the line every game because that is what we need to do when we play in the Championship because it is relentless. We have to bring in the right person who is in the right frame of mind to handle that.”