Lee Bowyer will be looking for a third successive win at Valley Parade on Saturday. Bradford are in indifferent form, so Bowyer will fancy his team’s chances of extending their winning run.
It will be David Hopkin’s first home game in charge of the Bantams, so he will obviously want to get off to a good start.
Bowyer will be without Nicky Ajose, Krystian Bielik and Darren Pratley through injury and Tariqe Fosu who is still suspended.
The manager will have latest signings, Josh Cullen and Jamie Ward, back from international duty though.
Cullen played 90 minutes for Ireland’s Under-21s on Tuesday, and, at his press conference on Thursday, Bowyer indicated that he is likely to be introduced from the bench.
Ward is raring to go, and could make his debut. Here are Bowyer’s thoughts on his new recruits ahead of the game:
“I’ve just spoken to Jamie (Ward) and he is raring to go. He came and watched us against Southend and he’s excited, it’s a new challenge for him and he’s looking forward to getting out there and showing us what he can do.
“Maybe, I’ll have to look at Josh (Cullen). He played 90 minutes on Tuesday and had to travel back from Ireland, so I’ll see how he is this morning.
“It might be a case of bringing him on later on in the game but I’ll weigh it up. With Jamie I think he is raring to go. For him, drifting off the wing he is very effective and could do well on Saturday I think.”
Ward has been a thorn in Charlton’s side over the years, and has scored four goals at The Valley during his time with Derby County.
The Addicks could look like this:
Steer; Solly, Bauer, Pearce, Sarr, Page; Reeves, Aribo, Ward; Taylor, Grant.
Subs: Phillips, Dijksteel, Cullen, Lapslie, Marshall, Morgan, Vetokele.
The referee will be Jeremy Simpson from Lancashire.
Charlton will be hopeful of repeating last season’s victory at Valley Parade.
