Charlton boss Jones says club will need to work ‘very hard’ before window shuts after double injury blow

Charlton boss Nathan Jones admits injuries to centre-backs Collins Sichenje and Billy Koumetio were his biggest concern after the Addicks were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Tottenham.

Charlton suffered a 5-1 defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Lloyd Jones scoring a consolation goal to make it three goals in as many games.

However, the visitors were dealt a double injury blow inside the opening 15 minutes, with Sichenje carried off and Koumetio forced off after limping.

“I’m really disappointed,” Jones said.

“The goals we’re gutted about because they are from set plays, allowing people to come inside and shoot – that’s bread and butter for us, we don’t do that.

“I’m disappointed with the goals but it’s a disappointing night for so many other things as well. We picked up two injuries which kills us.

“We lose two centre-halves during the first 10-12 minutes against a top Premier League side – what do you do? Then we’ve got a young team, with players that haven’t played, and we’ve come up against a top side.”

Jones admitted the cup tie had always been secondary to Charlton’s Championship campaign, with Preston next up on Saturday.

“This was a game tonight that was great for the fans, great for the club but from a squad perspective, coming out of a Championship game and preparing for another, it’s a real tricky one,” he said.

“If I’d played my first team today then we’d have been up against it physically to go into the game against Preston at the weekend and we can’t do that because this game will be quickly forgotten about, while our Championship season is something that is day in and day out.

“I feel a little bit down and sick for the injuries because if we lost 5-1 but had no injuries it would not have been that problem. The injuries – there is a knock-on effect from that.”

Charlton rested a number of first-team players for the trip to Tottenham, but Jones admitted the double injury blow has left him short in defence.

“We managed to rest a load of players tonight. We left a number of them at home, it’s just in a certain area where we’re struggling a little bit,” he added.

“We’re going to have to work very hard in the next few days.”