Lee Bowyer reveals one of the biggest challenges facing Charlton in heavy fixture schedule

Lee Bowyer admits that one of the frustrations in the Championship run-in has been managing the minutes of his Charlton squad.

Macauley Bonne started and scored in Tuesday’s 2-1 derby loss at Brentford but the Addicks chief is not sure whether the former Orient striker would be able to feature from the off against Reading this weekend.

Charlton have seen their frontline options depleted by Lyle Taylor opting not to play once football resumed – as he is out of contract this summer and will move on – while Andre Green has been troubled by a toe problem.

Bonne scored his 10th goal of the campaign in the midweek reverse in west London and put in a lot of hard yards off the ball.

“I’ll have to speak to Macca and see how he feels,” said Bowyer. “I’ll also speak to our medical staff.

“He did do a lot of hard work out of possession. So we’ll have a discussion whether he starts or can come off the bench.

“They [the medical department] put their input in and then it’s how I take it. It’s my decision whether Macauley plays.

“But if we start him on Saturday then there’s a bigger risk of him then getting injured. It’s not just him – I’ve tried to rotate them three up top. One or two of them will start and one will miss out, so that someone is always getting a rest.

“In an ideal world Chuks would have started on Tuesday, he’s been good for us when he has come off the bench and he started at Cardiff. But, with his record, he will break down. Jonny Williams is the same – there are so many like that. Jake [Forster-Caskey] will be the same.

“The changes automatically speak for themselves when players can’t do Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday, then it becomes a no-brainer.”

PICTURES BY PAUL EDWARDS