Charlton Athletic manager Lee Bowyer has confirmed that West Ham midfielder Josh Cullen is out of action until next year.

The 23-year-old was substituted off with what looked like a serious injury in the Addicks’ 2-2 draw with Cardiff City on Saturday, and his manager has now confirmed the worst.” he

Bowyer told London News Online. “Josh is going to be out a while, a fair while, longer than Lyle, not the season, but he won’t be back before Christmas. He’s done his ligament, a few of them. It’s not good.”

Cullen who played his junior football for Rayleigh Boys joined the West Ham Academy when he was nine years old is out of contract next summer.

A Dylan Tombides Award winner in 2014, the Republic of Ireland U21 captain has also enjoyed loan spells with Bradford City, Bolton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic.

There were calls from supporters to call him back from his season long loan deal with Charlton in January but his latest injury will put that option in serious doubt.