Lee Bowyer has shot down rumours that Lyle Taylor has made himself available to play for Charlton Athletic.
Reports over the weekend suggested the striker, who has netted 11 goals in 22 Championship appearances during an injury-hit campaign, had reversed a decision to reject a short-term extension of his contract.
His availability would be a significant boost for a Charlton side battling relegation, and they are set to face Leeds United on the final day of the season in what could be a pivotal match.
Yet Bowyer said nothing has changed in Taylor's stance, with the striker turning down the chance to return to the Addicks in order to avoid injury ahead of a summer which sees him become a free transfer.
The likes of Burnley, Bristol City and Nottingham Forest have all been linked with the 30-year-old and Bowyer said the striker is not even in training at the moment.
“I wish that was the case, but it isn’t,” Bowyer told talkSPORT.
“No, nothing has changed.
“I don’t know where that’s come from, but Lyle hasn’t even been training. He hasn’t since he said he wasn’t going to play.
“So, yeah, nothing has changed.”
Out-of-contract stalwart Chris Solly and on-loan midfielder David Davis have also opted against a return to the Addicks - but Taylor's importance to the club means that he has grabbed the most attention over his decision.
Former Leeds midfielder Bowyer says that he has moved on and is now focussing on his side's relegation battle, arguing that it is pointless making the three of them return to training until June 30.
“Lyle has taken a lot of the stick, but obviously there are three players who have decided not to play,” he said.
“I understand why people focused on Lyle because he’s our main striker and he the one that scores us goals, but I haven’t see any of the three players since they said they weren’t going to play the games.
“There was no point them coming in.
“But it is what it is, we’ve moved on now, it’s old news for me.
“Their contracts end of June 30, so there were three games they still could have played in but they’ve chosen not to.
“I can’t make them. If I could then I would, but I can’t make someone turn up for training and turn up for games, that’s just out of my power unfortunately and that’s their decision. I have to move on from that.
“We have to focus with the group that we have to get them ready for Hull at the weekend and the eight games afterwards.”
