Charlton Athletic boss Lee Bowyer has confirmed that midfielder Alex Gilbey will be featuring for the club's under-23 side today, whilst also elaborating on why the player has been absent from the Addicks' last four League One matchday squads.

A summer signing from Milton Keynes, Gilbey has only featured 16 times across all competitions for the South London club and has recently been removed from their last few squads as Bowyer seeks to find some consistency from his team.

As a result in this dip of form and subsequent absence, the player has fallen behind the likes of Darren Pratley and Jake Forster-Caskey in recent weeks, leaving the 26-year-old with work on his hands to get himself back into contention.

Speaking to the South London Press, Bowyer was quick to outline why the player has been left out lately:

“It was a selection choice. Form, if you like. I have spoken to him and to be fair he has reacted in the right way. He was very good in training all last week, there has been a big improvement.

“That’s why he is playing today. I want to see him in a game and also keep him topped up because we will need him. I want him to turn what he has done in training into doing that in a game.

“There are a couple of things [that have led to him struggling]. He was travelling a long way to get to work every day and then back home. And then there is a personal reason. Both those things have now changed.

“I said to him last week that I was seeing an improvement and he even said himself that he feels better now. The personal reason is better and he’s living down here now.”

Gilbey currently has two years remaining on his current contract at the Valley and will be seeking to get back to top form over the coming months as the club chases a play-off spot this term.

The Verdict 

This will certainly come as a boost to both the player and the manager as it shows that any differences that were had between the two have now been addressed.

The midfielder still has a lot to offer and with games coming thick and fast other the next few months, his services will certainly come in handy for Bowyer.

Only time will tell as to whether he can regain his starting spot however as the manager is unlikely to want to change a side that has been in largely good form for much of the campaign.

However due to recent inconsistencies, Gilbey could well slip back into contention over the coming weeks as Charlton's play-off push continues to stall.