Karl Robinson has put Lee Novak’s slow start at Charlton down to injuries.
Novak, 28, joined the Addicks on a free transfer last summer after a prolific spell with Chesterfield.
He has only managed to find the net on two occasions in a Charlton shirt, however, the striker’s debut season in SE7 was hampered by injuries.
And Valley chief Robinson believes Novak will come good for Charlton.
He told News Shopper: “The problem with Lee Novak is that he had so many injuries and didn't find that fluidity in his game.
“The amount of managers who call me and ask if he’s available or not proves that a lot of other managers would want him in their team. I think it would be fair to admit he’s not shown the fans here yet what he’s worth.
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“The injuries, the little knocks he’s been having and those little unlucky sort of things, he’s not had that run of games to find that form that he needs.
“One thing I can say is that he’s one of the hardest working players we've got, he cares and he’s so desperate to do well for Charlton and the fans. Sometimes you don't play well, but he’s had that unlucky stint of injuries.”
Another Charlton player who is hoping to have a breakthrough season at the Valley is Jake Forster-Caskey.
The Addicks signed the former England Under-21 midfielder for an undisclosed fee from Brighton in January.
Forster-Caskey, 23, started to show his worth towards the end of the campaign, netting in the last two games.
And he has continued his goalscoring form in pre-season. He was on target in Charlton’s win against Dover on Tuesday, and followed that strike up by scoring the winner at Stevenage.
Robinson reckons Charlton coaches Lee Bowyer and Johnnie Jackson can help Forster-Caskey become a consistent goal-scoring midfielder.
Jake Forster-Caskey scoring the winner against Stevenage | Picture: Ben Peters Photography
Jackson was the Addicks’ last central midfielder to reach double figures in a season after scoring 12 goals in the 2012/13 campaign.
Robinson added: “Jake has to be a goal-scoring midfielder - that’s what he was as a young player.
“People didn't know what type of midfielder he was because he is so talented, he dropped a little bit deeper and wanted to dictate games.
“But he’s a goalscorer and he’s got a knack of getting in there. What better two coaches than Johnnie Jackson and Lee Bowyer to teach you how to score from midfield?
“If you can’t improve with those two, then you’re never going to improve. So with the two of them as coaches, I’m sure they'll pass on their experience.
“I know Jake is enjoying working with them and hopefully the fruits of his labour will start to come off and that’s part and parcel of his game, getting into the box and nicking goals.
“Against Stevenage, he would've been stood outside the box last year, waiting for something to happen. But no, he was in there to get a goal. He’s enjoying scoring and when you're enjoying scoring goals, you find that little bit of belief.”
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