Walsall v Charlton Athletic team news: Boss Bowyer springs huge surprise as injury-doubt Lyle Taylor starts

BY LOUIS MENDEZ

Lee Bowyer has sprung a major surprise by naming top-scorer Lyle Taylor in his starting line-up for this evening’s trip to Walsall.

The Addicks boss had ruled his joint-top scorer out for this evening’s game in the Midlands after he was withdrawn on the hour-mark of Saturday’s home win over Doncaster due to a stomach muscle injury.

The former AFC Wimbledon man starts at the Banks’s Stadium – but Bowyer does make four changes from the weekend.

Taylor’s strike-partner Karlan Grant starts from the bench, with Igor Vetokele joining Taylor up-top.

Anfernee Dijksteel and Ben Reeves were both also named this morning by Bowyer as players who weren’t set to feature due to injury and they are replaced by Naby Sarr, who comes in at left-back, and midfielder Darren Pratley.

Tariqe Fosu, who scored in this fixture last season, will take the place of Jamie Ward, who is amongst the substitutes.

Youngster Toby Stevenson, fresh from scoring a hat-trick on his Addicks debut during the 8-0 EFL Trophy win at Stevenage last month, makes his first appearance in the squad for a league game as he gets a place on the bench.

Charlton: Steer, Solly, Bielik, Pearce, Sarr, Cullen, Pratley, Aribo, Fosu, Vetokele, Taylor. Subs: Phillips, Stevenson, Lapslie, Marshall, Ward, Grant, Ajose.

Photo: Kyle Andrews