BEN Hamer feels his best is yet to come as he continues to settle in as Charlton's new number one.

The 23-year-old spent almost his entire five-year senior career being loaned out by Reading after graduating through their ranks, making just one appearance for the Royals.

The loans included multiple spells at fellow Londoners Brentford as well as a season at Crawley, but Hamer admitted settling in has been a struggle since clinching a permanent switch to The Valley in the summer.

He said of life in SE7: "I love it here, but I've been here two months and still haven't found a place which is a bit of a nightmare.

"I've been living out of a hotel which is strenuous but it's something I have to deal with and I'm playing so I'm happy about that.

"Hopefully that will continue for me and we'll keep getting results as on the football side of things I'm very happy."

He continued: "I've had conversations with the gaffer and our goalkeeping coach, and I still think I have more to show. I'm still settling in and I think I'm getting there.

"Obviously with games coming up and me playing regularly my confidence will only get higher and hopefully I'll produce even better performances for the club."

Hamer explained the effect his househunt is having on bonding with his new team-mates, but much like his form on the pitch the Taunton-born keeper feels it's only a matter of time before things completely fall into place.

He said: "I get on with all the lads. I'm still in a bit of a settling in period so I haven't really had the chance to make friends properly, but we all have a craic at training.

"I'm still trying to sort out my personal life down here, finding a house and other stuff, so that's been the priority in my mind at the moment.

"We've had team bonding sessions and they're a good set of lads so I'm sure closer friendships with them will come in time."

His arrival was initially seen as the final nail in Rob Elliot's Charlton career after the homegrown stopper failed to agree terms on a new contract.

Hamer, on the other hand, explained his own reasons for making the move which for the first few weeks of the season, saw the Addicks have five goalies on their books at one time.

"I know that situations arose with Rob Elliot and his contract which had nothing to do with me," he said. "I was just offered a chance to sign here and challenge for the number one spot.

"With the situation at Reading in the summer, where I went out on loan last season and fell down the pecking order when I came back, I had a big decision to make.

"Luckily for me it's fallen into place where I'm the #1 here at the moment, but there's still tough competition for me here.

"Rob's gone up to Newcastle, and good luck to him, but we've still got keepers in me, John Sullivan and two young lads.

"Sullivan's working hard in training and he's looking good. I think the gaffer is very happy with the goalkeepers he has here at the moment."