NOVAK’S READY TO REWARD ADDICKS FAITHFUL
LEAGUE ONE
IT MAY have been the worst season of Lee Novak’s career, but the Charlton Athletic striker declared he is ready to fire in the goals between now and the end of the campaign.
The 28-year-old, who joined from Birmingham City in the summer, has had a stop-start season, with injuries and a loss of form holding him back.
Novak had scored just two goals in first 29 Addicks games and was forced to play second fiddle to the likes of Josh Magennis and Nicky Ajose.
But new boss Karl Robinson has shown faith in Novak, who has started Charlton’s last four league clashes, and the striker is desperate to repay it from here on.
“It’s good to be back playing,” said Novak. “It’s been a frustrating season, probably the worst of my career with injuries and not getting a run in the team.
“For the gaffer to trust me and put me back in there – me and Josh (Magennis) have done well and been a bit of a handful.
“I did basically the full pre-season and then, in the last game, I broke my hand. In hindsight, I shouldn’t have started the season with a broken hand and then, in the next game, I broke it again.
“It’s all ifs and buts, but luckily for me I’m back in the team and hopefully, after Tuesday’s win, we can start putting a run together.”
Charlton were in freefall, with no win in eight, before Tuesday’s dramatic 2-1 victory over high-flying Scunthorpe at The Valley, but Novak is confident they can now kick on.
“I wouldn’t say we were getting sucked into a relegation battle,” he added.
“We knew that the next win was massive.
“We’ve worked on a few things.
“The change of formation worked and we got the big win we wanted.”