Karl Robinson is still looking for his first win as Valley boss. The Addicks finish 2016 with three tough away games, starting with Wednesday’s trip to local rivals Millwall.
The trip to the Den is followed by visits to MK Dons on Boxing Day, and Southend on New Year’s Eve.
Robinson will write himself into Charlton folklore if he can pull off a rare victory over the Lions, but his cause will not be helped by a lengthy injury list.
Declan Rudd suffered a setback in training on Friday, so Dillon Phillips looks sure to continue in goal.
Robinson has played Ezri Konsa at right-back in the last two games, but the youngster has found it difficult. The manager may opt for the experience of Kevin Foley for this match.
Patrick Bauer and Jorge Teixeira seem certain to continue their partnership at the heart of the defence, and Morgan Fox may complete the back four.
Andrew Crofts and Frederik Ulvestad will probably be in the engine room, but Robinson will have to give some thought to his wide players.
Both Ademola Lookman and Jordan Botaka had poor games against Peterborough, and Robinson could be tempted to include the impressive Adam Chicksen.
Robinson has few choices up front now Lee Novak has been ruled out until the end of January. Nicky Ajose and Josh Magennis are his only fit senior strikers.
The Addicks could look something like this:
Phillips; Foley, Bauer, Teixeira, Fox; Lookman, Crofts, Ulvestad, Chicksen; Magennis, Ajose.
Subs: Mitov, Konsa, Johnson, Jackson, Botaka, Aribo, Hanlan.
The referee will be Chris Kavanagh of Manchester.
You have to go back to a snowy December night in 1996 for Charlton’s last win at the Den, but Crofts is determined to end that run:
“I’ve heard that we’ve not beaten them for 20-21 years, I want to be one of them players involved in the team that beat Millwall. Everyone in that changing room is exactly the same.
“I love derby games. They’re what you want to play in. Every fan going will want us to give everything we’ve got,” said the Welsh international.
Robinson will be desperate for his team to get off to a good start. With the current injury situation, he will have few options on the bench who can change the course of the match.
The Addicks will be happy if they can take a point from the game.