Charlton Athletic v Chelsea

CHARLTON will have to do without influential midfielder Alexei Smertin for the top-of-the-table clash with Chelsea at The Valley on Saturday.

Premier League rules stipulate that Smertin, loaned by Chelsea to the Addicks for a year in the summer, cannot play against his permanent employers.

And Charlton boss Alan Curbishley has admitted it is a blow to his side.

He said: "We’ll miss him because apart from anything else we’ve benefited from having a settled side.

"He’s come in and brought about a freshness to the side so he’s extremely disappointed that he can’t play against Chelsea."

However, Curbishley pointed to Radostin Kishishev as the unsung hero of the Addicks' midfield so far this season.

"He does so many unseen things during the course of a game and gives us that defensive base," said Curbishley. "The people at Birmingham were saying that he gives us a buzz."

Darren Ambrose, who has completed a three-match suspension after being sent off on the opening day at Sunderland, could make his home league debut.