Charlton boss reveals key man needed “a little kick up the backside”

Charlton manager Lee Bowyer has revealed that he needed to shake up Jake Forster-Caskey after he went into “relaxed mode”.

The Addicks boss recently claimed that the former Brighton and Milton Keynes man had been their most consistent midfield performer this season.

Forster-Caskey scored direct from a corner in Saturday’s 1-0 victory at Bristol Rovers.

But Bowyer was not quite as happy with the 26-year-old in pre-season.

“He is doing what we know he’s capable of doing,” explained the Charlton chief. “I think he went into relaxed mode – he was too casual in a pre-season game against Birmingham. We addressed that in the summer.

“In the Birmingham game he was taking too many touches, taking too long on the ball. Jake just needed a little kick up the backside, like most players do from time to time. He’s been here a long time and it is understandable.

“Now he is back doing well. It is pleasing for him because he is in the last year of his contract, like a number of the players are. I keep telling them that: ‘This is your careers. You are doing something that you love – don’t just let it drift’. They need to grab the opportunity and Jake is doing that.

“Jake has gone back to himself. He is competing and passing the ball quickly. He is the probably the player we had when I first took over. He really stepped up for me then and he is doing the same now. That’s the least we expect.”

PHOTO: KEITH GILLARD