'Big loss' - Charlton Athletic and Huddersfield Town handed boost as Blackpool dealt serious injury blow

Charlton Athletic have been handed a boost ahead of this weekend's League One clash against Blackpool with the visitors to The Valley suffering a serious injury blow this week.

The Seasiders sit 19th in the third tier at this early stage and have won just one of their last seven in all competitions. Meanwhile, Charlton Athletic sit third and are buoyed by back-to-back wins against Shrewsbury and Cambridge United.

The Addicks will be strong favourites going into the weekend and the expectation for another three points will be increased with injury news coming from Steve Bruce following his side's 1-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.

Blackpool midfielder Ollie Norburn has picked up a hamstring injury that will keep him out of action for a month, meaning he will be unavailable against Charlton Athletic - as well as upcoming meetings with Huddersfield Town, Burton Albion, Lincoln City and Mansfield Town.

Speaking in midweek, Bruce elaborated on his injury problems, which also include an issue for midfielder Lee Evans as he missed out against Sheffield Wednesday.

Bruce said, via the Blackpool Gazette: “We had one or two knocks, bumps and bruises, and one or two tired. It’s going to be a big month with the amount of games we’ve got, so it’s going to be about the squad and managing it.

“(Ollie) Norburn will be a big loss to us, it’ll be a month at least before we see him. It’s very disappointing, it’s his hamstring. It’s a frustrating one because it’s a muscle injury, which is never great.

“Evans had an x-ray on a foot injury, and thankfully there’s no fracture. He’s got a sore foot, but we expect him to be okay with the way he is. He was terrific at the weekend, so I’m glad we’ve got him up our sleeve.”