CHARLTON hitman Paul Benson claims his £250,000 price tag from Dagenham isn’t a distraction as he aims to fire the Addicks up League One.

After taking a while to find his feet at The Valley, Benson scored his first goal for the club against MK Dons a fortnight ago before adding two and three at Plymouth this past weekend.

And although manager Phil Parkinson’s summer-long pursuit of the forward, who turns 31 tomorrow, only raised the fans’ expectations, Benson doesn’t appear phased by any outside factors as he strives for a strong debut season in SE7.

He explained: “I’ve never really felt the expectations on me. The management and the lads have been brilliant with me since I came here, so I’ve never really felt the pressure to score goals straight away.

“I realise that’s what the fans want because any forward playing for their team, whether they cost £250,000 or £250, is expected to score goals.

“I don’t think it’s any different to how they see me. I’m a forward, I’m in the team to score goals and that’s what they’re looking for.”

Dagenham have done battle with the Addicks twice since selling Benson, with manager John Still stating after each game that the striker would be a hit at his new club if he receives adequate service in the opposition’s penalty area.

And Benson concurred with Still’s assignment, though also confessing his new boss Parky expects him to contribute to team duties as well as gun for goal.

“It is what I am, really,” Benson mused.

“I’ve done that for the five years I was at Dagenham and it worked pretty well for me.

“I got 70 goals for Dagenham as that type of striker and you can’t really argue with the statistics there.

“I do like having the ball delivered to me in the box as you saw today with the equaliser.

“Doc’s done tremendously to knock it down and I just anticipated where it was going to be and managed to get there.

“That’s what I’m like when I’m inside the box but hopefully I can bring a bit more to the team outside the box as well which is what the gaffer wants, so I’m working hard at that.

“I’m playing for Charlton and Phil Parkinson now so I’ll do anything he asks me to do and try to do it to the best of my ability.”

The Reds have also discovered their next opponents in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy following the draw before the Argyle match, and will travel to Southend for their regional quarter-final in the week beginning Monday November 8.

And having scored at the national stadium in May to help the Daggers to promotion, Benson feels the possibility of Charlton playing at Wembley is one his new side should take seriously.

He added: “It would be massive. Never under-estimate what it’s like to play at Wembley.

“It’s an unbelievable experience and I’ve told the boys how good it is to play there.

“A few of them have already played there but it’s a wonderful day whether it’s the play-off final, the FA Cup final or the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final.

“It’s not only a great experience for us but for the fans as well to have a day out at Wembley and I really hope we take this cup competition seriously and go for it.”