This intense spell gives everyone a chance to prove their worth – Lee Bowyer after Hemed, Aneke, Morgan and McGeady impress during win at Hull
BY LOUIS MENDEZ
The intense run-in ahead of every Championship side will stretch each squad to the max – but Charlton manager Lee Bowyer reckons it will present opportunities for fringe players to go and prove their worth.
Each side face nine games in the space of little over five weeks as the remaining fixtures are wedged in to see out the season following the three-month enforced break due to the spread of the coronavirus.
Managers are forced to contend with players deciding not to extend their contracts or loan moves to take part – as Lyle Taylor, Chris Solly and David Davis have done so at Charlton.
But Bowyer, whose side ran out 1-0 winners against Hull City on their return to action, says this will open up opportunities for other squad members to prove themselves, starting with that massive result at the KCOM Stadium.
“It’s given others an opportunity,” he explained.
“When doors close for some it opens doors for others. Tomer Hemed, that’s only his second or third start for us. I thought he worked really hard for us. Him and Macca (Macauley Bonne), everyone worked so hard as a team and you could tell how hungry they were to win.
“Chuks (Aneke), fair play to him. On Thursday he wasn’t down to travel with us, we were going to give him a couple of extra days to make sure he is over this little groin problem he had. but he came up to me and said I want to be part of this. That’s what we need, people who are willing to put their body on the line and fight. Chuks did that today. Him and Jonny Williams coming off the bench, excellent. Worked so hard. Chuks caused them problems.
“Young Albie Morgan, he’s just come back into the frame because he took care of himself. When we were on lockdown, he worked really hard. He looked so much fitter than he did when he left.
“Aiden McGeady, the same. So much fitter than the player we got in January. And he looked good. He’s a threat. Whenever you get the ball in and around the eighteen, he could cause something.”