Charlton Athletic manager Lee Bowyer has said that striker Lyle Taylor is a key asset to the club, describing the 29-year-old as "priceless".

The forward proved to once again be the match winner for the Addicks on Tuesday evening, as the south London side nicked a 1-0 win against high-flying Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

Despite spending over three months out with a knee injury during the first half of the season, Taylor's strike against Forest was his 9th league goal of the season.

“Lyle is priceless for us. From when we’ve brought him in to now, he’s been outstanding," Bowyer said in his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's sellout clash against Blackburn at The Valley.

"He’s changed and improved a lot and it was so important that we kept him."

Can you get 13/13 in this challenging Charlton quiz?

Taylor joined the Addicks in the summer of 2018 on a free transfer from AFC Wimbledon, and in his eighteen months at The Valley he has scored a total of 34 goals in 62 appearances - an average of just over a goal every two games.

However, he has less than six months left on his current deal at the club.

The forward rejected a new contract earlier on this season, but elected to stay in SE7 during the January transfer window.

"For as long as he [Taylor] is here, we’ve always got a chance of winning games," Bowyer added.

The Verdict

Lyle Taylor will be a key player for Charlton between now and the end of the season, and the club will be hoping that the 29-year-old stays fully-fit and suffers no further injury worries.

The forward looked back to his best against Forest on Tuesday, and Lee Bowyer's praise of the forward shows how highly he rates him.

However, sooner rather than later, the situation regarding his contract will need to be addressed as clarity is needed for all parties.