Charlton midfielder Terry Taylor may require scan on knee injury – as Michael Appleton also explains Chem Campbell absence
Charlton midfielder Terry Taylor may require a scan on his knee after limping out of the goalless draw at Shrewsbury today.
The summer arrival from Burton Albion was making his return to the squad after suffering a concussion during the draw at Stevenage a fortnight ago but was forced off shortly before the interval at the New Meadow.
Addicks manager Michael Appleton said: “He’s got a knee injury but how bad it is, we don’t know. He may have opened his MCL, his medial ligament. They are sore, I’ve been there before and had them myself. We’ll know more once it settles down and maybe we’ll get it scanned.”
Luton Town loanee Louie Watson was the man who replaced Taylor and he played a big part in an improved Charlton display after the break.
“He was excellent,” said Appleton of the 22-year-old.
“He made a couple of errors late in the game but that’s just down to experience, getting caught on the ball a little bit. He had an impetus about him. He sped the game up at times when we needed him to, whether that be little runs or a pass.
“Him and Dobbo (George Dobson), with the rest of the group behind them in the second half, controlled the tempo of the game. They kept him ticking along.”
The Charlton boss has an abundance of options in midfield and up top now, with the likes of Scott Fraser, Chuks Aneke and Miles Leaburn all recently returning from injuries.
That weight of numbers was the reason that Wolves loanee Chem Campbell didn’t feature in the matchday squad in Shropshire.
“You can only pick 18,” answered Appleton when asked about Campbell’s absence.
“You’ve just got to try and pick the right options. Try and think two and three steps ahead – what if this or that happens? That’s what we’ve done. I made it clear to the players on Thursday and Friday that there’s bodies coming back now. The group is getting bigger.
“There are players who think they should be in the team who will end up on the bench. Ones who thinks they should be on the bench who will not even make the squad. That’s just life, that’s what football is all about. I’ll be respectful and make sure they get treated properly. When they come in, hopefully they can put a shift in.”
PICTURES: KYLE ANDREWS