Charlton have triggered the option clause in Alfie Doughty’s contract which will keep the youngster at The Valley until the end of next season.

Doughty is sure to be involved in Saturday’s crucial game with Luton. A win for the Hatters would take them to within three points of Lee Bowyer’s side. But defeat would leave Graham Jones’ side a mountainous nine points behind their hosts‎.

Bowyer will be without midfielders Sam Field, Jake Forster-Caskey and Darren Pratley. It is a crunch game for both teams and Bowyer stressed the importance of the first goal at his Thursday press conference:

“We need to take our chances. When you create chances in this division and you don’t take them, you lose games. Our goals from chances created is normally very good to be fair.

“That was the difference between the two teams last week. Watching the game back, there wasn’t much in it. 

“Up until the first goal, we were the better side but didn’t take our chances, it was the same story in the second half so that’s what we need to do to improve.”

“The players tried against Blackburn, we can never criticise them for not trying. 

“Sometimes things don’t go your way in football. We could still be out there now and maybe have not scored! It’s one of those things.

“We worked hard and gave everything so there’s nothing for them to put right on that front. We moved the ball well and carved them open at times.

In the first 20 minutes I thought it would be our day.

“The first goal this weekend will be important and hopefully we can get it and go on to win.”

The Addicks  could line-up like this:

Phillips; Matthews, Lockyer, Pearce, Sarr, Doughty; Cullen, Davis, McGeady; Taylor, Hemed.

Subs: Amos, Oshilaga, Purrington, Smith, Oztumer, Green, Bonne.

‎This is a game that Charlton have‎ to win.