Patrick Bauer has hailed the impact of returning Charlton midfielder Ahmed Kashi.
Kashi, 28, has been plagued by a serious achilles injury since arriving at the Valley from Metz in 2015. He has made just 17 appearances for the club.
But the Algeria midfielder returned to first-team training in the summer and has been instrumental in the club’s strong start to the season.
Charlton defender Bauer, who opened the scoring in the Addicks’ 2-0 win at Rotherham on Saturday, is glad to have Kashi back.
He told News Shopper: “He joined Charlton with me in the Championship.
“I played with him and I saw what a great player he is, what an important player he is for the team and we are really glad that he is back.
“He’s so calm on the ball, he reads the game very well and he is a big influence on our game.”
With Kashi sitting in front of Bauer and Jason Pearce, Charlton have kept two clean sheets in their first four league games.
Patrick Bauer | Picture: Benjamin Peters Photography
And the impressive form from the central defensive pairing is keeping Addicks starlet Ezri Konsa out of the team.
Konsa enjoyed a breakthrough 2016/17 campaign with Charlton, making 39 appearances from defence and midfield.
The 19-year-old’s impressive displays have attracted interest from Premier League duo Arsenal and Everton. However, he is yet to force his way into Karl Robinson’s plans this season.
Bauer, the man standing in Konsa’s way of a starting berth, has praised the healthy competition among Charlton’s centre-halves - and the positive mood in the dressing room.
MORE: Five things we learned from Rotherham 0 Charlton 2
He added: “We don't only have Ezri Konsa, there is Naby Sarr, they are all great players. And also Harry Lennon, who is unfortunately still injured.
“We have great competition in the centre-back position and everyone is pushing each other.
“The dressing room is really good right now, we are like a big family.
“Everyone is talking to each other, we have a great team spirit and I think you can see that on the pitch.”
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