Charlton wing-back Josh Edwards pleased to defy the odds and return from injury in double quick time

Many feared that Josh Edwards could be set for a long spell on the side-lines after he was wiped out by Leyton Orient’s Sean Clare back in August – so the Charlton wing-back was delighted to be able to return to league action at Stevenage on Saturday.

Former Charlton man Clare launched into a horrendous challenge in the first-half of the Addicks’ win over the O’s at The Valley. Scottish defender Edwards was stretchered off at the time but relieved to see his injury was not as serious as it seemed.

Edwards returned to League One action as he started at The Lamex on Saturday.

“I’m glad to be back out on the pitch,” said the 24-year-old.

“It’s a horrible feeling being injured. Being out and missing out. The boys did well whilst I was out, and I was cheering them on but it’s better to be out on the pitch helping them. Today didn’t go as planned but we’ve got plenty more games to start getting ourselves back up the table.

“I’ve seen [the challenge] back a fair few times. My ankle really shouldn’t be at that angle. I’m glad we got away with it in a sense, and it wasn’t as bad as we all feared – broken or anything like that.

“I’m just glad to be back out there and hopefully I can contribute to the team turning this couple of losses around.”

The South Londoners have now suffered consecutive league defeats for the first time this season and struggled to create chances at Stevenage – but Edwards is certain that they can put it right.

He added: “I don’t think we’re far off it. There are just wee things that we can improve on. Once it clicks, because it’s going to click, we won’t be far off it and scoring plenty of goals. It just wasn’t falling for us today.

“We’ll stick together. We’ll go over what the problems were today. We’re too good of a side not to sort things out and work through this. It happens in football, wee slumps. I wouldn’t even call it a slump. Two bad performances and we’ll make sure we turn it around and get back to it.”

PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS