Charlton return to league action after a two week break on Saturday. In form Barnsley will provide stern opposition for Lee Bowyer’s side.

The manager confirmed on Thursday that the club’s trio of stars – Krystian Bielik, Josh Cullen and Lyle Taylor – who had been away on international duty, all returned fit and well.

Cullen and Taylor have been leading lights in the team this season, and Bielik was also impressive prior to his injury.

Bielik’s return will solve a major problem for Bowyer. His absence, coupled with injuries to Patrick Bauer and Lewis Page, has forced the manager to field a makeshift defence. Bielik’s inclusion will allow Bowyer to put out a more balanced back line.

Bielik has not played since his injury, and was not used by Poland, but he looks certain to play against Barnsley.

The defence will need to be on their mettle against the free scoring Tykes. Here is what Bowyer said at his press conference:

‎”Yep, they’ve all come back uninjured which is good. Josh played two 90 minutes, I’d rather he didn’t but it is what it is. The most important thing is that they’ve all come back unscathed, which is good.

“Krystian hasn’t played any minutes for us since he’s come back from injury. Then he went away so I was hoping he’d get some minutes into him but that hasn’t been the case and he’s come back and is still fit so that’s good.

“Sometimes they go away and don’t get any football and can break down again. So the positive thing is that he’s had a good two weeks of training and he’s back but I’d have rather him have got some minutes into him because he could’ve played for us in the Checkatrade game (against Stevenage) but we can’t control that.

“The most important thing is that they’re all back and looking good.”

A benefit of the international break is players get a chance to recharge their batteries and recover from niggles, whilst those on the injured list edge closer to a return without missing any games. Bowyer continued:

“Patrick (Bauer) and Pagey, it’s helped them. Two weeks gone by and they haven’t missed a game. So it’s a positive.

“We’ve got Wardy (Jamie Ward), he’s been able to have two weeks of training and play in the Checkatrade game so it’s benefited us in the long run.

“The break was a good thing, it recharged the batteries of those who weren’t on international duty.

“We’ve been working hard and had two weeks to prepare for the game. Sometimes that can be a bad thing because you’ve got two weeks to think about the opposition, but you can overthink it.

“They’re a good side, I’ve been watching them a lot over the last two weeks. It’s been a positive thing for us I think (the break).”

The game is a Kids For A Quid promotion, so the crowd will be boosted by an influx of youngsters.