Major injury setback as key Charlton man set to miss rest of the season

Darren Pratley looks set to miss Charlton’s final two matches of the Championship campaign – with manager Lee Bowyer revealing he pulled his hamstring in the build-up to Birmingham’s equaliser last night.

The veteran midfielder was brought on in the closing stages of the 1-1 draw in the Midlands and suffered the injury as he tried to close down Jude Bellingham.

The Charlton boss has already made it clear that he wanted to keep Jonny Williams and Alfie Doughty on the pitch – but that neither was able to continue.

“Pratley will be out,” said Bowyer. “He’s got no recovery time for the games. That’s him done.

“The unlucky thing [with Lukas Jutkiewicz’s equaliser] is that Pratley would never have got beaten as easily as he did out wide – but he did his hamstring.

“Bellingham went past him with ease – that would never happen, particularly when he was fresh after coming on. I couldn’t bring him off because I had done all our subs.

“Jonny came off with cramp – I didn’t want to bring anyone off because we were so comfortable and looking good on the break.

“Jonny Williams still on the pitch is better for me. Alfie Doughty still being on the pitch is better for me. But they had both run out of legs and Alfie had hurt his ankle – he couldn’t even run properly. They couldn’t run any more and I can’t then leave them on because they become a liability out of possession.

“Tomer [Hemed] was tired and Chuks [Aneke] made a good impact. Sam Field has run out of legs so when they brought on Bellingham it was time for Pratley, I thought he’ll look after him.

“Birmingham were whacking long balls into the box and long throws. I had to bring Naby [Sarr] on for a bit of height because we’re only small at the back.

“We just couldn’t see it out.”

TOP PHOTO: KEITH GILLARD

OTHER PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS