Major injury blow for Charlton as striker ruled out for at least eight weeks

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Igor Vetokele is set to be missing until at least the middle of September after injuring his foot in Charlton’s 2-1 friendly win at Welling on Saturday.

The striker has spent the past two seasons out on loan but Addicks caretaker boss Lee Bowyer claimed at the weekend that the former FC Copenhagen man was set to stay with the SE7 outfit for the forthcoming League One campaign.

But Vetokele is facing around eight weeks out with a tear to the underside of his left foot.

Head of Medical Services Alastair Thrush told the club’s website: “This is an injury that was confirmed with an ultra sound scan yesterday. It happened during the game against Welling. 

“The injury is going to require a period of immobilisation in a boot to start with for a few weeks followed by a graduated loading programme. We anticipate that we’ll see Igor back in training again in about eight weeks’ time.

“It’s an injury that heals well given the right circumstances but you have to immobilise it initially to let the scar tissue build before you then start loading it again.”

Charlton manager Lee Bowyer said: “It’s disappointing because he’s had a great start to the pre-season. The most important thing for me was to try and get through pre-season without any injuries but this is just a freak injury, something that you can’t control. 

“He scored a good goal against QPR and did okay again at the weekend. He’s going to be a miss, he’s a good player.”

IMAGE BY KEITH GILLARD