‘All that gruelling hard work to come back from injury was worth it’ – Charlton striker Miles Leaburn on hitting the goal trail

Miles Leaburn says that scoring goals for Charlton Athletic has been payback for the hard graft required to return from a serious hamstring injury.

The striker, 21, scored in today’s 2-1 League One win over Cambridge United today at The Valley.

Leaburn has netted six times in all competitions this season and has notched in back-to-back league matches after also being on target in Saturday’s 5-0 thrashing of Northampton Town.

The former Chelsea youngster had been out since November 2023 until he returned to the first-team fold at the start of October 2024.

“It’s been tough, getting my fitness back,” said Leaburn. “I feel I’m getting fitter. The lads have been understanding about getting back into my groove. To be back scoring again is the best feeling.

“Even I didn’t realise (how hard it would be to come back). This is my first long injury and I was shocked because I thought after even three or four games I should be getting my fitness back a bit more. It took longer than that. To see I’m getting past that stage is a nice feeling.

“The first month was literally me in bed, I couldn’t do anything. The next 10 months was literally gym and building strength – getting fitness back. All that gruelling, hard work is for times like this when I’m back on the goal trail and playing well.

“Now to have those goals again makes it seem like it is really, really worth it.”

“It’s good. I hadn’t scored in the league before last Saturday and now to have be on a little bit of a roll, I want to keep that momentum going.”

Tyreece Campbell put Charlton ahead after just 36 seconds with Leaburn heading home from close range in the 20th minute.

“Everyone knows Josh (Edwards) has got that long throw so I was waiting for the flick on (from Macaulay Gillesphey),” said Leaburn. “When I saw the ball up there I thought ‘let’s get a head on this’ – luckily I beat the keeper to it.

“The gaffer told us to start as fast as possible and it was great to get the early goal. He wanted us to stick it on them and that’s what we did.

“The gaffer said we have to get that first goal because we look so much more confident when we do that. There is a stat that we don’t lose when we get that. It is a massive confidence booster.

“The three before this we got clean sheets, so we know we’ve got a stable backline.”

PICTURE: KYLE ANDREWS