New Charlton signing Adam Matthews is still short of full match fitness as Lee Bowyer looks to get him up to speed before including him in first-team action.

The defender, 27, became the Addicks’ 15th summer signing when he joined on a one-year deal earlier this month.

After training with the club for several weeks, his first appearance was for its under-23s side when they lost to Burnley at Princes Park.

Bowyer said Matthews needs “couple more” reserves games under his belt, which could see the Wales international feature against Wigan Athletic next Monday (September 16).

He added: “He missed pre-season, and that’s a lot to miss, so slowly but surely we’ll get him up to speed and then he can start competing for the right-back position.”

READ: Charlton star could still play against Birmingham despite knock

Bowyer also hopes Beram Kayal benefited from the international break after he was considered to be short of match sharpness heading into it.

Kayal, who is on a season-long loan from Brighton and Hove Albion, represented Israel against Slovenia and North Macedonia during Euro 2020 qualifying.

The Addicks boss said: “I said to him, before he went, that we needed him to play games and get some minutes under his belt and get a bit of sharpness back into him.

“That’s all he was lacking so hopefully when I see him today, he will have picked up a bit of sharpness which can only be a positive for us.”

Bowyer also said fellow new signing Deji Oshilaja is back in training.