Sam Lavelle suffered exact same groin injury as Charlton captain Jason Pearce

Jason Pearce has tried to keep Sam Lavelle’s spirits up – with his fellow Charlton Athletic centre-back ruled out with a serious groin injury.

Addicks club captain Pearce has come back into the starting line-up in recent weeks as Lavelle and Ryan Inniss are both sidelined.

“I tell the lads to try and take their mind off football and do something different,” said Pearce. “That can be a course or reading about something other than football.

“When you get injured it is quite a lonely place. It’s usually a tough time, so if you can take your mind elsewhere and focus on your rehab, it feels like it helps.”

Pearce did the same injury in 2016 – tearing the groin tendon off the bone. He was out for around three months.

“He is a great guy and I’m disappointed I got my opportunity that way,” said Pearce. “I never want to see anyone get injured that way. But he’ll be back and firing.

“It’s not a nice one but he went and saw the same surgeon I did. He’ll be fine with his recovery. It’s a fairly long road back but after a month you start getting back in the gym and a bit of running. He’ll be fine.”

See tomorrow’s South London Press for a full interview with Pearce.

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD