Ex Leeds United midfielder Lee Bowyer says Charlton Athletic trio are refusing to play final games

The Addicks boss revealed on TalkSport this morning that he will be without a trio of players, including key striker Lyle Taylor, who is on the cusp of a 'life-changing' move according to Bowyer.

The EFL released a statement last night to confirm the weekend of June 20 as their provisional restart for the Championship.

"We have 15 out of contract, we've got six loans and nine of our own contracted players who finish at the end of June," said Bowyer, whose side were in the relegation zone when the season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Unfortunately for us three of those players have said they're not going to play. Lyle is one of them.

"That's tough for us, tough for me as a manager. He's a big player for us. A bit like [Troy] Deeney at Watford, similar situation, when he plays, we win games.

"Lyle has said he's not going to play because of risk of injury. Chris Solly said the same. [David] Davis, on loan from Burnley, says he doesn't want to come back and play games. We're three players down. It's just another hurdle.

"But we've got another 22/23 players who do want to play and that's the most important thing to me now. I've got to brush that under the carpet and move on. That's what we're doing as a football club, we'll move on without those players and fight to the end."

Bowyer admits Taylor, who this season has added 11 goals to the 25 he scored in the 2018/19 campaign to help Charlton escape League One, is in a difficult situation because of his fears over potentially getting injured, when a move elsewhere is in the offing. But the manager is disappointed that Taylor won't finish what he's started and help Charlton in their fight to remain in the Championship.

"I don't think I'm asking too much," said Bowyer.

"He's a Charlton player, he's done great for us for two years. In my eyes, finish what you start. Everyone has their own decisions to make. What disappoints me the most, I've spoken to Lyle about it, he's in such a difficult position - he wants to play but he's so worried about getting injured that he says he wouldn't be the same player for us. It's difficult because he's so big for us. He's going to get a life-changing move.

"When this first happened I thought this could be a problem because I know how well Lyle has done for us. If it wasn't for Lyle we wouldn't be in this division. He's chosen not to come back and play to the end."

QPR released a statement this morning in which they lambasted the EFL's statement, lack of consultation with individual clubs and the proposed restart date.

Championship leaders Leeds United have maintained throughout the suspension that their preference is for the season to resume so they can play for promotion.

Clubs returned to training last week, in small groups and are yet to begin full contact training.