Charlton boss Karl Robinson has hinted at rotating some of his players for their trip to Walsall on Tuesday evening.
The Addicks are winless in three games and Robinson has only made enforced changes to his starting eleven this season.
But to avoid injury or burnout to Charlton’s stars, the Liverpudlian could consider these three changes…
Jason Pearce OUT, Ezri Konsa IN:
Pearce left the Valley on crutches following their 1-1 draw with Bury on Saturday. It makes the ex-Wigan man a major doubt for the Walsall clash.
A groin injury kept Pearce out for three months last season and it coincided with the Addicks’ slide down the table.
Konsa, 19, is a good enough replacement for the influential defender. It means fourth-choice centre-back Naby Sarr will have to settle for a place on the bench.
Ahmed Kashi OUT, Joe Aribo IN:
This change seems the most unlikely to happen given Kashi’s importance to the team, especially with Pearce’s suspected injury.
But Kashi has just started playing regularly after recovering from a serious long-term achilles problem. And he featured against Southend, Wigan and Gillingham in the space of seven days, so a rest could do him the world of good.
Ahmed Kashi | Picture: Benjamin Peters Photography
Aribo, who is another product of Charlton’s renowned academy, was a shining light in a poor 2016/17 season for the Addicks. Robinson gave the midfielder his first-team chance and the youngster repaid the faith shown in him with strong performances.
His boundless energy and power would complement Jake Forster-Caskey in the middle of the park.
Tariqe Fosu OUT, Ricky Holmes IN:
Holmes is expected to return to the starting line-up against Walsall after serving his one-match ban. And while Charlton's star man is likely to replace Karlan Ahearne-Grant, who failed to impress on the weekend, he should come in for Fosu instead.
Fosu has started every league game this season and has done well. But he is only 21, and has never played this much football in his career.
Ahearne-Grant only played 64 minutes on the weekend so will still be fresh – and the forward will be eager to improve on his poor showing against Bury.
The Charlton XI to face Walsall (with those three changes): Amos, Solly, Konsa, Bauer, Dasilva, Aribo, Forster-Caskey, Ahearne-Grant, Clarke, Holmes, Magennis.
Subs: Phillips, Sarr, Jackson, Kashi, Fosu, Reeves, Hackett-Fairchild.
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