With Charlton proving to be one of the Championship's most surprising high-flyers this season, it is perhaps unsurprising that injuries and a lack of form have seen their results begin to tail off as we move towards the winter period of the season.
The Addicks have only picked up one win in their last five league games, underlining the over reliance that Lee Bowyer's squad has on certain players who are currently sidelined by injury, such as top scorer Lyle Taylor.
However Addicks fans will no doubt be pleased to see one of their key players return to the first-team fold for this weekend's clash with Derby County, with Bowyer yesterday confirming to Londonnewsonline.co.uk that left-back Ben Purrington will be fit to play against County this coming Saturday, with the ex-Leeds United midfielder going on to state:
“It’s really important that Ben is back because that left-back position is where we are short.”
Purrington has played a part in all but one of Charlton's eleven Championship games this term, whilst the 23-year-old has registered one assist in the process.
The former AFC Wimbledon full back will always be held in high regard by The Valley faithful due to his playoff final strike against Sunderland last season, as the Addicks secured promotion with a memorable 2-1 win at Wembley.
The Charlton fans will also feel more comfortable with Purrington being restored to the left side of the back four, with Bowyer having to adopt an abstract three at the back formation last time out at Fulham, with natural centre midfielder Jake Forster-Caskey operating as a wing-back.
Despite Purrington not being well known for his offensive attributes, the ex-Rotherham United man still provides a solid option defensively, with the left-back averaging 1.9 clearances per game, putting amongst the top ten in the Charlton squad for that particular statistic.
With Purrington likely to slot straight back into the starting eleven, Addicks fans will be hoping that they can once again get back that winning habit.
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