Charlton have nearly a dozen players out on the injury table – and Lee Bowyer has never seen anything like it.

Josh Cullen added to the growing list of absentees, which stands at 11, when he was stretchered off during the 2-2 draw with Cardiff City.

Bowyer was already without 10 senior players for the lunchtime clash, including the likes of Jonny Williams and Lyle Taylor, but could face further problems depending on the fitness of Deji Oshilaja and Erhun Oztumer.

The pair picked up knocks against Cardiff after being drafted in for Naby Sarr and the suspended Darren Pratley, meaning they could be doubtful for the trip to Luton Town.

READ: Bowyer on Cullen and injury fears ahead of Luton clash

Bowyer said: “In all my time in the game, I’ve never once seen this amount of injuries at the same time – and the problem is simple.

“The three knee injuries you can’t control that, that’s just unlucky … our problem is the muscular injuries, and they’re [the injured players] coming back but they’re breaking down.

“Everyone has two or three, and I accept that, but ours are coming back and then breaking down when you’re just losing another two.

“Then all of a sudden you’ve got four. Then with the four you think, ‘Those two should be coming back soon’, because you’re going to lose one or two more because that’s what happens with players. Then all of a sudden, it turns into six and seven and that’s what is costing us.

“Players are coming back from injury and then breaking down. I’ve never known it, not any club that that I’ve been at.”

Charlton were unable to name a full bench against Cardiff and had to rely on youngsters Alfie Doughty and Albie Morgan late on in the second half to get their third goal of the game.

While the teenagers, who spent time on loan at sides Bromley and Ebbsfleet United respectively, impressed Bowyer he felt bad about having thrown them into a game against tough opposition.

READ: Bowyer reflects on 'disappointing' Cardiff draw

He added: “To bring Alfie on and Albie, it’s tough to just throw them in. Like I said, Alfie hadn’t even played in League One last season.

“He didn’t play in that, and then all of a sudden he’s been chucked in a Championship game against Cardiff.

“But [it’s a] sink or swim sort of thing, how are you going to handle it? They handled it well today but, again, it’s a lot of pressure for the kids and I didn’t really want to do that. But like I said, I had no choice.

“But they’ll be okay. We’ve got some good lads around them that will help them through it.”

Charlton's injury list in full:

  • Beram Kayal
  • Ben Amos
  • Chuks Aneke
  • George Lapslie
  • Jake Forster-Caskey
  • Jonny Williams
  • Josh Cullen
  • Lewis Page
  • Lyle Taylor
  • Sam Field
  • Tomer Hemed