Karlan Grant believes both stints he spent on loan have shaped him in to the player he is today.

Speaking to Valley Review the forward with five goals already this term says his time at Cambridge and  Crawley Town have helped his career.

The Charlton academy graduate, who made his debut four years ago at the age of 17, freely admits that he learned from both loan spells even if his spell at Cambridge during the 2015/16 wasn’t a success.

“I went to Cambridge probably thinking that I was better than that at the time,” said Grant.

“I had made my debut in the Championship and I was thinking ‘why should I be going to League Two?’ That was wrong and I took it for granted, but that experience is something I have been able to learn from and made me work harder.

“When I went to Crawley I said to myself ‘I have to do it now. If I can’t do it now, when can I ever do it?”

Grant scored nine goals in League Two at the back end of last season and that was enough to convince Addicks manager Lee Bowyer to give him a chance this term.

“I never doubted myself. I always scored goals in the academy and I knew I could do it on the big stage, so I was really happy to go to Crawley and do what I did. 

“I feel that I’ve proven myself in League Two, now I need to prove myself in League One.

“Lee Bowyer has put a lot of faith in me and, hopefully, I’m repaying him for that.”

Grant’s goals have fired Charlton to sixth in the league and his partnership with Lyle Taylor has been a key reason for that.

“We get on well off the pitch which makes things easier. Lyle knows my qualities and I know his and, because we get on so well, we’re always looking for each other. 

“I’ve created a few goals for him which I’m happy with because, as long as we win games, that’s what it’s all about and if we can help each other it makes it easier to do that.”

Charlton visit Luton who are currently 12th this Saturday looking to extend their four league game winning run.