Charlton’s squad, already ailing through injuries to Igor Vetokele and Rhoys Wiggins, suffered another setback last night at Fulham as Frederic Bulot was forced off in the second half.

And head coach Bob Peeters said the original diagnosis wasn’t looking good.

“He directly grabbed his hamstring, so I think something went in his hammy so it doesn’t look good,” he told the press after the final whistle at Craven Cottage.

“He couldn’t properly walk after the game, so I think we lose him for a few weeks but that's football. 

“If you push people to the limits, then yeah, OK sometimes you get injuries.

"We have to do it with the players we have available at this moment, so hopefully we need to manage their fatigue.

“That's why I gave them two days off even when we lose 3-0 to get them fresh for next week because it’s going to be another battle against Sheffield Wednesday.”

When quizzed on the size of the squad and whether he thought the powers that be will look to add some more players before the loan window closes on November 27, Peeters conceded that it was unlikely,

He said, “I don’t think the chairmen will bring at this moment players in because he’s still happy with the 22 points.

“On the television they say 'are you not going to push for promotion' Before the season we were favourites to get relegated and now we have to push for promotion!

“If we have 15, 16 players, you don’t have a squad to push for promotion.

"You need to be realistic and show the fans what we did second half.”

Peeters said it was now vital for his side to bounce back from defeat once again.

“I’m not a negative coach so I think we need to continue,” he said.

“Last time we had a defeat we bounced back with a victory.

"That's what we’ve got to do next week against Sheffield Wednesday. 

“But first we need to see that we can recover some players.

"I think at this moment, personnel wise, we’re struggling.”

The head coach made a special point of thanking the fans for their support during the game.

Three thousand Addicks fans had made the trip across London and backed their team vocally all throughout.

“The fans were fantastic today," added Peeters.

“Even if we’re losing 2-0, the fans were positive and backing us up, even after the game. 

“I think they saw already that everybody, especially in the second half, gave everything they got.

“Hopefully we can bounce back next Saturday.”