Lee Bowyer provides injury updates on Jason Pearce and Billy Clarke after Barnsley defeat

Lee Bowyer says it’s too early to assess the extent of Jason Pearce’s injury, and has also provided an update on the fitness of Billy Clarke.

Pearce became the latest name added to Charlton’s ever-growing injury list as he was forced to withdraw in the second-half of the 2-1 defeat at Barnsley.

“It’s to do with his ankle,” explained Bowyer.

“It’s too early now. You know Pearcey, he tried carrying on but he just couldn’t move. If he’d have got caught one v one the fella would have just walked past him so we had to take him off.

“Naby Sarr comes back [from suspension] now. We’ll have to see what happens with Pearcey but that’s just the way things are going at the moment.”

Bowyer was also asked for the latest on Irishman Clarke, who had nearly a year on the side-lines with a ruptured ACL. The 31-year-old made four appearances in cup games but had been out again since early December with a slight thigh problem.

“Billy is training again now but Billy is not ready,” said the Addicks boss.

“He ain’t ready at the moment. It’s hard for him to take because he wants to play. But it wouldn’t be fair on him to start throwing him into games like this. Physically I don’t think he’s ready.

“He trained yesterday. Hopefully we’ll just keep trying to work on him and see where he gets to. But he isn’t ready at the moment.”