Charlton are hoping to play long-term absentees Harry Lennon, Lewis Page and Jason Pearce against Swansea Under-23s next month.
Lennon has been out for more than a year with a groin problem, Page has suffered setbacks with a hamstring injury and Pearce damaged his knee in September.
Addicks boss Karl Robinson wants to use the three defenders in a back four in the Checkatrade Trophy clash at the Liberty Stadium.
He said: “We were laughing the other day about this.
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“The Swansea game in the cup brings a lot of targets for Harry Lennon, Lewis Page and Jason Pearce.
“It would be nice to put three of them into a back four for that game. They’re all moving forward and getting fitter and looking sharp.
“Yesterday, Harry Lennon hit the fastest pace of the season in one of his testing modules so that was pleasing.”
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