For the second year running, Charlton will be away to a Paul Tisdale side in the opening round of the Carabao Cup.
A year ago, the south Londoners embarked on a trip to Devon to face Exeter, this time around it is the short trip to Milton Keynes.
Cup competitions these days do not figure prominently in manager’s list of priorities, and barely warrant being classified as first class games in the early stages.
Here are Lee Bowyer’s thoughts on the clash with MK Dons:
“I’m going to play near enough all youngsters, Nicky Ajose will be the only senior (outfield) player.
“Anfernee Dijksteel – who is still one of the youngsters – Taylor Maloney and Albie Morgan will all play. Apart from that, it will be U-23s.”
A player who will not be involved is the rejuvenated, Karlan Grant. Grant has been around the first team for so long, it is hard to believe he is still only 20.
Both Grant and Bowyer believe last season’s loan stint at Harry Kewell’s Crawley have been instrumental in Grant’s resurgence:
”Going on loan was the best thing for me, 100 per cent. Doing well, as I did, not many people will go away in January and score that many goals and I am fortunate to have done that.
“Now I want to prove to everyone what I’m capable of. I thought I had a good game last time (at the Stadium of Light) and a good game on Saturday (against Shrewsbury).
“I felt like I deserved my goal and now I just want to kick on and keep that form going and hopefully get more.
“Double figures is the aim for me to start and then we’ll see where we go. I just want to win really. Goals are the bonus and hopefully I can keep scoring more and more,” said Grant.
Bowyer is playing Grant in his favoured striking role, and the player believes he can finally establish himself in the team:
“Like lots of people have said, I’ve been in and around it for years. Last season, I needed to get out the situation where I was in and out of it and get match fitness and game time.
“It’s paying off for me now because I’m working hard every day, the team is working hard every day and it was great to get the result on Saturday.”
