Charlton Athletic boss Bowyer on why he needs to be careful with fielding the club’s young players

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Lee Bowyer has promised to give Charlton’s young guns game time this season – but admits that is still likely to be in cup competitions.

George Lapslie impressed in the second half of the Addicks’ 1-1 friendly draw with Brighton on Tuesday night.

But caretaker manager Bowyer has already said the likes of Lapslie, Taylor Maloney and Albie Morgan are not seasoned enough for League One battle.

“When I believe they are ready then they will play,” he explained. “But I can’t put too many in at the same time.

“They are so keen. On Tuesday you can’t put the reins on them. You ask them to press but experience tells you when you can and when you can’t.

“If you have got too many on at the same time then Taylor will go, George will go, [Jamie] Mascoll will go – they are all going at the wrong time.

“The most important thing for me is in possession, are they scared to get on the ball? One of Taylor’s first passes put it out of play – don’t worry, go and get on the ball again. That’s when you become better.

“George did well, he was receiving the ball on the half-turn – these are the small details you probably won’t notice. But he wasn’t doing that before pre-season.

“Now he is getting it on the half-turn, he’s playing one touch around the corner and getting it on the return. These are just small things that are going to make him a better player.

“All these young lads have improved so much in a short space of time.

“It wouldn’t be fair to chuck them in now, because they are not ready. But if they keep improving then who knows when? They will play in the cup games, for sure.”

IMAGE BY PAUL EDWARDS