Lyle Taylor failed a fitness test and couldn’t kick the ball 10 yards “without his toe killing him” before he scored in Charlton’s win against AFC Wimbledon, according to Lee Bowyer.

The 28-year-old grabbed his 10th League One goal this season when he struck on the hour following Nicky Ajose’s delivery into the box.

He would play all 90 minutes against the Dons, a club he left to join the Addicks this past summer, before applauding the travelling fans at full time.

Despite finding the back of the net, Taylor didn’t celebrate but was mobbed by his team-mates as he broke the deadlock on 60 minutes in the 2-0 victory.

Bowyer was asked about the striker’s fitness levels and said: “He looked 100 percent but he certainly wasn't.

“He had a fitness test this morning and failed it, and at the training ground he couldn't pass the ball 10 yards without his toe killing him.

“Then the only option he could have was to have an injection in his toe to numb it, but that's Lyle. He's played on through pain before already this season.

“I said to him, 'Look Lyle, there's no pressure. If you can't you can't, I'm not going to make you play. Obviously we'll miss you if you don't'.

“He knows what's at stake here, we're all trying to push for promotion, so he said, 'I'll have the injection then I'll warm up and see if I can get through that. If I can get through that then I'll play'.

“Thankfully he did play because he played well and was a threat all day and obviously scored.”

Naby Sarr’s red card after just 56 seconds was apparently the quickest sending off in Charlton’s history in what threatened to scupper their chances of all three points.

His late challenge on Wimbledon’s Tennai Watson was met with a straight red from referee Trevor Kettle before the visitors’ Mitch Pinnock would get a second yellow after half an hour.

Bowyer said he’ll review the challenge after the game and the club will discuss whether to appeal it, but added: “My initial feeling is that Naby is an honest lad, he's tried to win the ball and mistimed it.

“He's an honest lad. I said to Naby after [the game] it's one of those things, it happens in football you know?

“He's tried to win the ball and mistimed it. That's what happens.

“I still felt comfortable even when he went off. Even when he was walking off I still felt comfortable, I thought we can still win this.”