Few people would have predicted Charlton Athletic’s fast start to the season.

After sealing a return to the Championship via the League One play-offs last term, the Addicks are second in the league and are yet to lose a game.

Key to that success has been the form of Lyle Taylor. The 29-year-old scored 25 times for the club last season and has not stopped in the 2019/20 campaign–scoring five times in six Championship appearances so far.

However, Lee Bowyer may be without his talismanic frontman for their clash with Birmingham City on the weekend.

Taylor cut short his international duty with Montserrat due to an injury and that “knock” could mean he misses the game on Saturday.

The absence of the striker would be disastrous for Charlton but Bowyer does have a number of replacements in his squad.

That being said, here are three possible options if Taylor is not available on Saturday.

Tomer Hemed

Hemed’s summer move to Charlton was a rather drawn-out process after the Addicks failed to complete the signing before the 8th of August transfer deadline.

The Israel international is a seasoned Championship striker, with 110 appearances and 35 goals to his name in the division, and was likely brought in to step up in occasions just like this.

He showed last season at QPR that he is still capable of performing well and finding the back of the net at this level–providing seven goals in 27 appearances.

Chuks Aneke

A product of the Arsenal academy, Aneke made one appearance for the Premier League club before joining Stevenage.

Aneke was extremely impressive for League Two side MK Dons last season, bagging 19 goals for the club, which is likely what earned him the summer move to the Valley.

The 26-year-old has been really useful from the bench for Bowyer so far, providing one goal and one assist in four appearances, and he looks like the likely man to come in.

Macauley Bonne

Bonne joined the club from League Two side Leyton Orient in the summer after two blistering seasons in the National League.

The 23-year-old scored 45 goals across two seasons for the O’s and was instrumental in helping them seal a return to the Football League.

Such were the quality of his performances that there was reportedly interest from Premier League sides, such as Leicester City and Sheffield United.

It may be too early in the striker’s Charlton career for Bowyer to consider giving him the start but he is certainly one to look out for in the future.