Stuart out for six months

Charlton skipper Graham Stuart is likely to be out for six months after it was confirmed that he suffered cruciate ligament damage in the game at Bolton a week ago.

The injury, which he suffered setting up the Addicks' winning goal for Jason Euell, came in his first match since formally taking over as club captain from Mark Kinsella.

Richard Rufus has taken on that role in the subsequent two games and now looks set to keep it for some time after physio Andy Jones revealed that Stuart had snapped the anterior cruciate ligament of his left leg against the Trotters.

"Graham is likely to be out for at least six months," said Andy. "He was examined by a consultant the day after the Bolton game, but we have had to wait for a series of scans to be completed.

"He went back to the consultant on Friday afternoon, after which the diagnosis was confirmed."

Stuart will need an operation, but this cannot take place immediately because the swelling needs to subside first.
The injury is almost identical to the one sustained by Radostin Kishishev prior to the start of last season and similar to the one that also sidelined Richard Rufus during 2001/02.