Joe Aribo is set to miss at least the first month of 2019 as he recovers from a knee injury he suffered in Charlton’s win over Gillingham, according to the club’s medical staff.

Head of medical services Alastair Thrush says the midfielder has “damaged a number of structures within the knee, but thankfully none of them too badly”.

Aribo will continue to wear a protective brace on the injured knee until it settles before starting rehabilitation work in the gym – predicting an absence of between four and six weeks.

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The latest injury setback comes as George Lapslie suffered his second concussion in as many weeks during Charlton’s 2-1 defeat to Coventry City on Boxing Day.

Lee Bowyer’s third and final substitute got involved in a collision with Luke Thomas, which left both players on the ground for several minutes, before Lapslie left the pitch with a bandaged head.

His latest injury follows from the concussion he sustained in the 2-1 victory away to Portsmouth earlier in December.

Thrush added: “George Lapslie suffered a nasty head-to-head collision at the end of the Coventry game, which resulted in him requiring several stitches to a large facial laceration.

“Unfortunately the episode has also resulted in some further concussive symptoms, for which he will require some extended time out, as this is his second concussion in as many weeks.

“He will be continually reviewed by the medical team and will be reintegrated back into training as appropriate.”

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But amid fresh injury woes for Bowyer during Charlton’s play-off push to the Championship comes some news on Lewis Page and Igor Vetokele.

Page is making his way back from a hip problem that has kept him sidelined since the 5-3 defeat to Scunthorpe United in October, with a return not expected until February.

Similar goes for Vetokele, who won’t be back until the end of February, following his right shoulder dislocation against Walsall in November.

West Ham loanee Josh Cullen suffered the same injury in the same game, but Thrush says his was “a little more extensive” and had a “slightly different operation six weeks ago” – therefore his recovery time is longer.

No return date has been set as yet.

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But there was positive news for Jake Forster-Caskey who still remains a long-term absentee after rupturing his ACL at the start of Charlton’s campaign.

Thrush believes the midfielder is “progressing ahead of schedule” and is will start running again in the “next few weeks”, adding: “Which is a great testament to the hard work and hours he has been putting in with his rehabilitation to date in the gym.”

Nottingham Forest loanee Jamie Ward is closing in on a return to first-team action following a thigh complaint, while Billy Clarke continues his recovery from a knee ligament injury suffered last season against Blackburn Rovers.