IAIN DOWIE’S attempts to settle his new-look Charlton side have been dealt a huge blow with the triple loss of newcomers Djimi Traore, Andy Reid and Souleymane Diawara.

All three were injured in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Chelsea and now face the prospect of long-term lay-offs.

Left-back Traore’s stop-start season, which saw him suspended following his dismissal on the opening day at West Ham, has hit the buffers once more after sustaining hairline fracture of his left fibula.

The club are waiting on scans on Reid, whose general fitness must be a cause for concern, and Diawara, the most expensive defender in the club’s history.

Dowie made no secret of the fact that he fears the worst and admitted: "I guess Djimi will be out from two to four weeks, Souleymane for four weeks and Andy for three.

"It’s no coincidence that the injuries to Souleymane and Andy are muscular and they did not do a pre-season with us. That’s what happens when you bring players in late because they haven’t had the same preparation as the rest."

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