It was confirmed on Wednesday that Billy Clarke has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament, which will keep him out until the autumn.

‎Clarke saw a surgeon on Wednesday and will have to undergo reconstructive surgery. He will then commence an eight month period of rehabilitation.

‎Charlton’s head of medical services, Alistair Thrush, explained what will happen with Clarke:

“He’ll have surgery in the coming weeks, once the knee has settled down, and after that he will have around an eight-month period of rehabilitation before he can return to play. We’re hopeful that he could be back for the start of next season.

“This is one of the toughest injuries for a player to accept but Billy has been through it before. He suffered the same injury to his other knee in 2010, so he knows what to expect from his rehabilitation and he will be seeing the same specialist now as he did then.”

‎With no date yet set for his operation, and a rehabilitation period of eight months after the knee has settled down, Thush’s hope that Clarke will be fit for the start of next season looks very optimistic.

‎The Addicks currently have six other senior players sidelined. Patrick Bauer and Ahmed Kashi hope to be available for the New Year’s Day clash with Gillingham at The Valley, while Ricky Holmes is hopeful of being fit for the Boxing Day clash with Southend at Roots Hall.

Tariqe Fosu needs another four weeks of rehabilitation before he is available, and Lewis Page has now injured his ‎Achilles, which will keep him out until February.

Jake Forster-C‎askey picked up a quad injury at Blackburn, and will be out for a couple of weeks or so.

A young Under-23 side progressed to the semi-final of the Kent Senior Cup, with ‎a comprehensive 5-1 win over Cray Wanderers at Hayes Lane, Bromley on Wednesday evening.

Albie Morgan (pen), Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu, Alfie Doughty, Jo Cummngs and George Lapslie were the Charlton scorers. Anthony Adesite‎ scored Cray’s goal from the penalty spot.
Charlton: Phillips; Birch, Cummings, Blumberg, Zemura; Dempsey, Sarpong-Wiredu, Morgan (Carter 87); Trialist (Isiaka 72), Doughty, Carey (Lapslie 87).‎

Subs (not used): Beeney, Kirunda.‎

Goals: Morgan 18 (pen), Sarpong-Wiredu 32, Doughty 52, Cummings 62, Lapslie 90.‎
Cray Wanderers: Blue; Mundele (Foster 55), Osibodu (Whybrow 46), Evans, Nelson; Henry, Carpenter, Adesite, Parker; Frederico, Lawrence (Garvey-Williams 72).‎

Subs (not used): Poku, Frieter, Vines.

Goal: Adesite 60‎ (pen).

Booked: Evans 20 ( foul).
Attn: 152‎.