Charlton’s promotion push was dealt another blow on Saturday as captain Jason Pearce left the field injured in their 2-1 defeat at Barnsley.

Pearce’s departure was later compounded with Chris Solly’s red card deep in injury time which will give Lee Bowyer a defensive headache for their New Years Day clash with Walsall.

“We’re down to the bare bones,” said Bowyer.

“He’s (Pearce) done something to his ankle and I know for a fact that if Pearcey can play then he plays,(against Walsall).

READ: Bowyer on red card decisions in Barnsley defeat

“He’s our captain, he’s our leader and he didn’t want to come off.

“It was the right decision to bring him off and hopefully he will recover for the next game.”

Bowyer will be grateful for the return of Naby Sarr who has served his three match ban but injuries elsewhere have still left the manager feeling lady-luck has not been shining on The Addicks.

Other options at centre back could be returning Krystian Bielik to the back-line after adopting a defensive midfield role in recent weeks, while Solly’s absence could see Toby Stevenson called in at left-back.

“We haven’t got the luxury of rotating two or three or four players,” Bowyer continued.

“We are still in and amongst it and we have got two home games coming up and I believe we can go on another run. Hopefully we will start to get some bodies back because we need to.

“Today(at Barnsley) was hard on the lads, they are giving everything and we will have to pick them up and we’ll go again.”

READ: The players Charlton sold: Part II