Lee Bowyer has admitted Charlton are “down to the bare bones” following their late defeat to Coventry City on Boxing Day.

Tom Bayliss hit an 89th minute winner to snap the Addicks’ three-match winning run after Darren Pratley cancelled out Jordy Hiwula’s opener.

Missing from the squad was Joe Aribo, who picked up a knee injury in the Gillingham win, while substitute George Lapslie was involved in a collision with Luke Thomas.

The list of absentees forced Bowyer to select youth players for the bench in Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu, Reeco Hackett-Fairchild, and Toby Stevenson – with Mark Marshall being the oldest at 31.

And it comes as Charlton face a gruelling three games in seven days against Barnsley, Sunderland and Walsall.

READ: Bowyer on Charlton midfielder's injury status after Coventry defeat

“It takes its toll,” Bowyer said.

“We don’t have people to bring in and we’re down to the bare bones. We’ve got kids on the bench left, right and centre with just Mark Marshall as the only senior one.

“You could consider Karlan [Grant] senior but he’s still young himself.”

Despite the injury problems, the Addicks boss has been keen to praise the players’ efforts as they continue their Championship promotion push.

Defeat at Coventry leaves their position in the league table unchanged, in fourth, but does open up a three-point gap between themselves and Sunderland following their victory against Bradford.

READ: Player ratings from Charlton's defeat to Coventry on Boxing Day

“To get to where we are, the lads have been unreal,” Bowyer added.

“We don’t have the luxury of what other teams have got. We’re all digging deep and it’s tough, but we’ll put this behind us and go again against Barnsley.

“I know I’ll get a good reaction because I’ve got a great bunch of lads in there who are all fighting, and one thing I can say is that they give me everything until the end – they always do.

“We’ll patch the squad together and, whoever steps out there, I know they will give 100 percent. That’s a given.

“They know that that’s what I expect and that’s what I want and they give it, to be fair.”