CHARLTON are set to welcome back key duo Chris Solly and Johnnie Jackson for this Saturday’s Valley encounter with Stevenage.

Illness forced Solly to withdraw from the squad just over an hour before Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Rochdale.

And influential skipper Jackson has missed the last two games after picking up a calf/Achilles injury in the 2-1 victory over MK Dons on February 14.

But manager Chris Powell confirmed this lunchtime the pair are on course to make a return against Stevenage.

On Solly’s chances, the SE7 boss said: “I would hope so.

“It was a real late shout with regards to what happened to him on Tuesday and we are just being quite delicate with him.

“He didn’t train today, he came in but he will be OK to train on Friday to be up for selection on Saturday.”

And on Jackson, Powell added: “We’ve just been quite delicate with him making sure we don’t do any long lasting damage when he comes back.

“I’m hopeful I will be able to have him in the squad for Saturday.”

Jackson was this week shortlisted for the League One player of the year award alongside Huddersfield’s Jordan Rhodes and Sheffield United’s Ched Evans.

The news delighted his club manager, who like everyone else associated with the club has his fingers crossed it is Jackson who takes the final plaudits.

Powell said: “I’m ever so pleased for him and very proud that he has been nominated.

“It will be tough for him to get it but I really do hope that he does get it because then it shows the measure of him as a player and as our captain but also what other people think of him.

“He is one of those players that every team would want – a goal scoring midfielder and a consistent one at that.

“It is great that people have recognised that and it will be even better if gets the award, but he is up against two good players so we will have to wait and see.”

Powell also conceded the late withdrawal of Solly on Tuesday had disrupted his side on the night, but was quick to praise those who stood in at the last minute or ended up playing out of position.

The Valley chief added: “It was a real blow because it was so late and we had a settled team, we knew what we were doing and obviously it just throws you a little bit with regards to what to do.

“I thought Rhoys acquitted well after being told so late he would have to play at right back.

“Again, Cedric Evina acquitted himself well. It is difficult because I’d named the team and the subs and obviously he wasn’t in the 16, so had resigned himself to watching the game.

“Then I had to pull him down 65 minutes before kick-off to say ‘you’ve got to play’.

“That is hard for any player, particularly a young player who hasn’t played for a while, but he done OK, he did the job I wanted.

“The players still created chances and looking back on it the following day it was actually 15-4 (to Charlton) with regards to chances.

“For a team that people feel we are not completely where we would like to be I’ve got to say that is a good return.

“Of course you want to convert those but the players acquitted themselves well on the night and that is all I can ever ask from them each and every game.”

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