Charlton Athletic manager Lee Bowyer has claimed that a need for rotation brought about by the Championship's heavy fixture schedule means on-loan Brighton midfielder Beram Kayal will get his chance in the Addicks' first-team this season.

Kayal's season-long loan move from Brighton was confirmed on the final day of the summer transfer window, but the Israeli international has yet to make his debut for the club.

An impressive start to the campaign sees Charlton second in the early Championship standings with four wins and two draws from their opening six league games of the season, but Bowyer has revealed that that does not mean it will be difficult for the likes of Kayal to force their way into the side.

Speaking to the South London Press about the 31-year-old's chances of featuring for the Addicks, Bowyer revealed: “Certain games will suit certain players.

“Sam Field stepped in [last time out against Reading] but Pratley had done nothing wrong – he’s been excellent.

“I just felt for that game it would be better for us if Sam played there. There are going to be occasions when it is the same for Kayal, once we get him back fit."

Kayal, along with another Charlton summer signing from Brighton in Tomer Hemed, has been called by Israel for the September international break, and discussing the boost he hopes that will give the midfielder, Bowyer added: “The international break will be good for him because he will be involved in a couple of games and also get two weeks of training in as well. Hopefully, when he comes back he is a lot fitter."

Assessing what Kayal will offer to the Charlton side once he returns to first-team action, Bowyer concluded: “He is a good player who has good experience. We are going to need that at times, just like Pratley has been excellent with his experience. Kayal is going to be the same.

"I’m going to have to rotate the midfield when we play Wednesday-Saturday games because as we saw in the Brentford match it is impossible for them to get through the whole of both games.”

Charlton's first game after the international break sees them host Birmingham City at The Valley on Saturday afternoon.

The Verdict

I think this is a sensible move from Bowyer.

The Championship is notorious for the physical challenges it produces, so it does make sense to plan to rotate the squad as much as possible.

When you consider the proven ability and experience that Kayal has throughout his career, you feel that he is a pretty decent option for Charlton to have around in that situation as well.

With Kayal joining Jonny Williams, Erhun Oztumer, Josh Cullen, Sam Field and Conor Gallagher as midfield signings for Charlton over the past few months, it is remarkable how much stronger they look in the centre of the park than they did at the start of the summer.