Charlton Athletic manager Lee Bowyer has revealed he is expecting on loan midfielder Josh Cullen to attract plenty of interest during the summer transfer window when he returns to West Ham United.

Cullen has spent the last two seasons on loan with Charlton and was highly influential in helping Bowyer’s side secure a return to the Championship last term, but injury troubles have prevented the midfielder from being able to really help the club move away from relegation danger this term.

However, since the restart to the campaign Cullen has managed to play a vital role in helping Bowyer’s side record two crucial wins against Queens Park Rangers and Hull City, which has seen them climb out of the relegation zone, despite a 1-0 loss against Millwall on Friday.

Quiz: Can you name every Charlton Athletic top goalscorer from the last 13 seasons?

Speaking to the London News Online, Bowyer suggested that there could be a host of suitors lining up moves for Cullen in the summer once his loan spell at the Valley comes to an end – and he expects him to play a key role for West Ham next term if the Hammers suffer relegation.

He said: "When we lost him for a few months [due to injury] it left a big hole. He’s made such a big difference, so we have to be careful [not to overload his minutes], for sure.

"If West Ham went down then I think he’d go back and play there. If they don’t go down then I don’t know what will happen. I’ll be surprised if someone doesn’t try to buy him – he’s a manager’s dream.

"Josh is just a machine. He is everywhere. He breaks so much up and doesn’t give the ball away. He’s been very good in the last three matches."

The verdict

Bowyer is probably right to suggest that there could be plenty of clubs lining up bids for Cullen in the summer, following the midfielder’s impressive progress over the last two years at the Valley – and although suitors may have been put off by his injury this term he has shown he is fully over that since the restart.

Charlton would probably want to keep the talented midfielder at the club next term themselves, but the financial situation around clubs at the moment could potentially price them out of a permanent deal for the West Ham player.

Cullen would be a tough player to replace for the Addicks next season and Bowyer will be hoping that any player brought in to replace him can have the same level of impact on the side. For now though the midfielder will need to concentrate on helping Charlton recover from their set back against Millwall.