Charlton face three matches in seven days, starting with Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

After that, they face a trip to Preston on Tuesday, before Reading visit The Valley on Saturday week.

Jose Riga has a number of injury concerns as he explained at his press conference on Thursday:

“Igor (Vetokele) trained with us today, but it’s about having an assessment day-by-day. We will see tomorrow but he is close to being fit and could be with us on Saturday.

“Jacko will be out for around two weeks. Of course, he is not operational for the next game but Jordan (Cousins)is feeling better and today he was running.

“The game on Saturday may come too early for him. Again, we will make the assessment tomorrow and we don’t want to take a stupid risk on him.

“He is a very important player in our team. We will take the best decision, not only for tomorrow but for the season,” said Riga, before updating the assembled press corps on his new arrivals:

“They are getting fitter more and more. Our latest two signings, Motta and Yun, had been playing some U-21s games before they signed for us.

“Ok, there is a big difference but their fitness levels are good. Rod Fanni is getting closer too, but of course, they need games to get there.

“We have three games in a week coming and it is very important to have more than one solution.”

The head coach then spoke about Alou Diarra, Patrick Bauer and Yaya Sanogo:

“Alou was part of training also today. With his injury, we have to be prudent but the news is quite good for him also.

“Patrick will take a bit more time but at this moment we don’t see any more complications with his treatment.

“He is on the pitch, he can run and do a lot of things and in the next few weeks we will have all the players available, which is good.

“Unfortunately, Yaya Sanogo has a bit of pain on his back and I am not sure that he will be part of the next game. I thought he did well against Cardiff,” concluded Riga.

So, Johnnie Jackson will definitely be absent on Saturday and Cousins may not be risked. Igor Vetokele has an outside chance of being involved in the match, possibly from the bench.

Rod Fanni will not feature, and Yaya Sanogo looks unlikely to be available. Yun Suk-Young and Marco Motta are fit enough to be included in the squad.

Yun could start, while Motta may be on the bench. Riga will also have Tareiq Holmes-Dennis available.

For Charlton, it is very much last orders in the Last Chance Saloon time. Realistically, they probably need to take at least seven points from these three games to have a chance of escaping the drop.

The bookies rate them as 1/12 to be relegated, and with their difficult run-in, the Addicks desperately need to turn things round quickly to build momentum.

Riga could send this team out to face Fulham:

Henderson; Solly, Teixeira, Lennon, Yun; Gudmundsson, Poyet, Ba, Bergdich; Makienok, Lookman.

Subs: Pope, Motta, Fox, Johnson, Harriott, Ghoochaejhad, Vetokele.

Premier League referee, Kevin Friend, will be the man in charge.

Charlton have not beaten Fulham in their last ten outings, and the Addicks have not won at Craven Cottage since 1986.

Riga’s team have history against them, but it is a challenge they need to overcome.