Charlton’s game at Blackpool on Saturday will be played on a difficult pitch. The surface is already heavy, with heavy rain predicted for the area on the day of the match.

Last season’s fixture was called off an hour before kick-off, following persistent rain on the morning of the match, so there has to be some risk this game could also be rained off.

The state of the pitch will also mean Lee Bowyer will have to be careful with the players – such as Patrick Bauer – that have recently returned to fitness.

Here is what Bowyer had to say at his Thursday press conference:

“I know the pitch will be heavy because I think Rochdale had their game called off the other night and that is up that way.
“Our game at Blackpool got called off last season because of a waterlogged pitch. Hopefully it isn’t raining up there and we know it is going to be a heavy pitch.

“There will be grass on it, though, so we will still go there to pass the ball and be creative and to create chances in the final third.

“They are the players and we have, ones that want to create, and we want to be defensively solid too.”

One of the players who will be in contention for a starting berth is Mark Marshall. Bowyer had his to say about the winger’s prospects of playing:

‎”I have to say that I think it was the best game he [Marshall] has played in the attacking side since he’s been here. His balls into the box and his final deliveries were a lot better.

“He nicked a goal the other week by getting across the defender against Mansfield, something he hasn’t done before.

“He’s taken things on board that we are telling him and that’s only going to make him improve and give him more chance of playing.

“Now I’m seeing that end product, he’s got a case to have a chance of starting. There are lots of games coming up and I have no doubt that he’ll be involved, for sure. He’ll be in the squad on Saturday.”

Ben Reeves is ‎another player who could be available, but not suited by the conditions.

The Addicks may look something like this:

‎Steer; Solly, Bauer, Pearce, Sarr; Bielik, Lapslie, Aribo, Ward; Taylor, Grant.

Subs: Phillips, Dijksteel, Marshall, Fosu, Clarke, Reeves, Ajose.

The referee will be Tony Harrington.

It will be a tough match against difficult opponents, played in tough conditions. But Bowyer will expect his side to take something from the game and keep their good run going.