PEP Clotet intends to tread carefully when it comes to giving Malachi Napa time in the first team.

The 18-year-old winger has made two brief substitute appearances for Oxford United in the last month.

Many would see tonight’s Checkatrade Trophy third round tie at Charlton Athletic as an ideal chance to give Napa a chance to impress from the start.

But Clotet plans to take it slowly with the teenager.

He said: “It’s very important with players like Napa that when we give them the chances they take it.

“We don’t want to put him in the wrong place and then he loses confidence.

“I have to time it very well to make sure that Napa turns himself from a prospect into a player, so I have to assess.”

John Mousinho (hamstring) is missing and new signing Rob Dickie is cup-tied, so Mike Williamson is expected to play at centre half.

A shoulder injury to Simon Eastwood will see Scott Shearer handed only his second start for United, who have recalled Jack Stevens from his loan at Oxford City.

Charlton have a lengthy injury list which includes former U’s loanee Jake Forster-Caskey and Tariqe Fosu, who scored in the 1-1 league draw at the Kassam Stadium in October.

TONIGHT’S LINE-UPS

Charlton Ath: from Amos, Konsa, Bauer, Lennon, Da Silva, Kashi, Aribo, Marshall, Mavididi, Holmes, Magennis, Hackett-Fairchild, Dijksteel, Ahearne-Grant, Reeves, Jackson, Sarr, Phillips.

Oxford Utd: from Shearer, Carroll, Martin, Williamson, Ricardinho, Henry, Xemi, Ruffels, Van Kessel, Obika, Thomas, Mehmeti, Mowatt, Payne, Napa, Ledson, Tiendalli, Stevens.