Charlton will have to rely on the experience within their squad upon their return to the Championship says Chris Solly.

The Addicks have the smallest squad in the division, made up from the smallest budget, but club captain Solly insists they are capable of holding their own in the second tier.

Lee Bowyer has added Macauley Bonne, Tom Lockyer, Chuks Aneke, Adedeji Oshilaja, Ben Amos and Ben Purrington to his squad this season with loan signings expected to arrive before the window closes next week.

Despite the new additions, Solly believes it is the experienced leadership of the pro's in the squad that could prove most valuable.

For a club boasting an academy that continues to produce and promote talent to the first team, Solly cited the senior pro's of Jason Pearce, Jonny Williams, Lyle Taylor, Darren Pratley as instrumental figures going into the 2019/20 campaign.

"We’ve got a lot of good talented young players, but they are going to need that guidance at times," Solly said.

"There are going to be times this season we will go through bad spells, it will happen.

"So it’s important the lads really step up, and show their experience in those times."

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Solly, 28, himself seen as a leader within the club after recently celebrating a decade at the club with a testimonial against Aston Villa at The Valley on Saturday, revealed what drives him on and why he feels at home at Charlton.

"The easiest answer I can give is that I’ve always been happy here.

"Always enjoyed my football, loved playing here, great stadium to play in, great training ground, a lot of great people there, and I'm learning every day off coaches.

"So the main thing for me is that I’m enjoying it.

"All the time I’m enjoying my football, I’m going to want to stay here.

"I still feel I’ve a good few years in me. Love playing and want to play as long as I can.

"This season it’s about playing as many games as I can, getting in the side and staying in the side."

Asked what he was looking forward to most about a return to the Championship and what he believes are realistic targets for the coming season, Solly continued;

"We’ve got the fixtures with Millwall that I’ll always look forward to.

"But this division with so many top teams, so many great stadiums with big crowds, and every game is going to be tough this season and that’s something as players we will thrive off.

"As a team I’d say we reach that 50-point mark as early as we can, see how many games we’ve got left then see where we can go."

Charlton travel to Blackburn Rovers for their 2019/20 season opener.

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