Josh Cullen: This Charlton side compares with the Bradford team I reached the play-off final with two years ago

BY LOUIS MENDEZ

He reached the League One play-off final with Bradford City two years ago – and Josh Cullen says that this season’s Charlton side compares with that successful Bantams squad.

Cullen made 40 appearances on-loan for the Yorkshire outfit as they finished 5^thin the 2016/17 League One table before going on to lose 1-0 to Millwall at Wembley.

The Republic of Ireland u21 international set up the Addicks’ opening goal for Karlan Grant as they ran out 2-0 winners on his return to his former side on Saturday.

“From what I’ve seen, the standard is really high,” explained Cullen, who is on a season-long loan deal at The Valley from West Ham United.

“The quality is good. It’s a team that can be ambitious this season. To come to places like here today and Southend before that and get wins – it’s not easy and not many teams will do that. It’s a very good group in terms of quality and the togetherness. The changing room, how tight it is, is very good news for the fans I think. We’ll take it game by game but there’s no reason why we can’t be ambitious this season and try and get Charlton the football club back where it belongs, which is higher than League One.

“The quality within the changing room can definitely look to push on and be ambitious for play-offs or automatic promotion this season.

“Before I came I saw a few of the games and the lads were playing well but the results weren’t coming. It was only a matter of time and now it’s three wins on the bounce. But we know we can play better than that. It’s a good, talented group and a good group of lads. We’re not going to take our foot off the peddle. We’ll keep going and hopefully make it four in a row next Saturday.

“Hopefully every fan you speak to will always say I give 100 percent for the shirt. I had a good time here at Bradford, we just missed out in the play-off final. The fans were brilliant to me when I was here and I tried to give everything for them. It was nice to come back, get the win. It’s nice to see a few familiar faces but they’re going home a bit sadder than we are today.”

Addicks boss Lee Bowyer, who was once heralded as one of the best midfielders in Europe as he reached the Champions League semi-finals with Leeds United, had chased the signature of the 22-year-old for a while before he made his temporary switch from the London Stadium.

“It’s nice to hear that from the manager,” said Cullen after hearing how pleased Bowyer was to secure his services for the coming season.

“I wanted to come here and show everyone what I can do and try and make the team better. It’s good to have comments like that from the gaffer but it’s no good him saying it and then me turning up and not producing. I’m determined to come here and give my all for Charlton and play as well as I can every game. Try and help the team win as many games as I can.

“That was one of the key factors really, why I came here. To learn off a manager like that who’s had so much experience in the game and played at such a high level. Some of his traits, that’s the type of midfielder I want to be. To come and learn off someone who has that experience was a really major factor in why I chose to come to Charlton.

“That’s key for any young player. It’s easy now for players to maybe to think well I’m in and around a first team in the Premier League and I’ll stay there. You come out and it opens your eyes that football is a lot different to what’s going on in the Premier League. To come out and get that experience at Bradford, 40-odd games, it’s invaluable for a young player. You find yourself growing up quickly. Hopefully I can show that experience and keep developing and keep improving for Charlton.”

Photos: Kyle Andrews