Jake Forster-Caskey's freak training injury ruled him out for the whole season.

It was described as a “massive blow” by Lee Bowyer as Forster-Caskey was the ball-playing midfielder that everything went through.

Rupturing his cruciate ligament and suffering “significant damage to other structures in his knee,” the midfielder was instrumental in Charlton’s run to the play-off’s last season.

Lapslie

In his absence Bowyer has had to call upon academy players to fill the void. Stepping up to the plate was George Lapslie.

The terrier-like midfielder has quickly earned Bowyer’s trust in the middle of the park and can be deployed either in an advanced role of a diamond, or as the holding midfielder such is his reading of the game.

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The 21-year-old is enjoying his best run in the side since making his breakthrough last season and now sees himself as a first choice starting XI player.

Under Bowyer and Johnnie Jackson the midfielder’s game has come on strides and he looks set to only improve.