TEAM NEWS | Debut for Lavelle while Lee earns maiden league start

Sam Lavelle makes his Charlton debut as one of two changes made by manager Nigel Adkins for this afternoon’s League One encounter against Cheltenham Town at The Valley, with Elliot Lee earning his maiden league start for the Addicks.

The 24-year-old defender replaces Ryan Inniss to partner Akin Famewo at the heart of the Charlton defence, while Lee comes in for Conor Washington.

Elsewhere, new signings Pape Souaré and Jonathan Leko are named on the bench alongside Washington.

Should Adkins’ side continue in the same formation employed in the Addicks’ previous league outing against Crewe Alexandra then Adam Matthews, debutant Lavelle, Famewo and Chris Gunter will form the back four ahead of Craig MacGillivray. Diallang Jaiyesimi and Charlie Kirk will provide width, supported by Ben Watson and Albie Morgan in central midfield, with Lee operating just behind captain Jayden Stockley.

Souaré, Leko and Washington are joined on the bench by Nathan Harness, Jason Pearce, George Dobson and Corey Blackett-Taylor.

Speaking on his team selection, Adkins told CharltonTV: “We’ve got a forced change in the right centre-half position, where Ryan Inniss is out injured so Sam Lavelle, a new signing from Morecambe, comes in. I’ve been really impressed with him so far so he’s going to have his starting debut alongside Akin Famewo. 

“We’re going to have a start for Elliot Lee, he is going to pair Jayden Stockley. Conor Washington will be on the bench. I toyed with putting Conor in from the start, obviously he, like Chrissy Gunter, has had his games away on international duty.”

Charlton: MacGillivray; Matthews, Lavelle, Famewo, Gunter; Jaiyesimi, Watson, Morgan, Kirk; Lee, Stockley (c)

Subs: Harness, Pearce, Souaré, Dobson, Blackett-Taylor, Leko, Washington

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