Charlton forward Josh Davison wants to repay Nigel Adkins’ faith in him after spending last season on loan away from The Valley

BY LOUIS MENDEZ

Charlton forward Josh Davison says that his loan spells at Woking and Forest Green Rovers last season have paid dividends.

The 22-year-old striker, who joined the Addicks from Enfield Town in 2019, spent the first-half of the last campaign with the National League Cards, scoring three goals in 11 league appearances.

He then bagged three more as he spent the rest of the year in League Two with promotion-chasing Forest Green. Davison came off the bench in each of their enthralling play-off semi-final legs against Newport County, which saw the Welsh side progress to Wembley 5-4 on aggregate.

The young forward has had to bide his time this season with Jayden Stockley at the top of the pecking order, but an impressive display during his first league start at Gillingham last week, coupled with an important goal on Saturday, has kickstarted Davison’s Addicks career.

He did previously make a handful of first-team appearances under Lee Bowyer in the Championship, scoring against West Brom, when the Addicks suffered a major injury crisis two years ago.

“The loans made me grow up,” explained Davison shortly after he scored Charlton’s late leveller in the 2-2 draw with Portsmouth on Saturday.

“I learned a lot from the different coaching as well. Playing around different players, in a different environment. It was good for me. I’ve come back and technically I feel better as well getting more league football under my belt.

“When I first came in [to Sparrows Lane in the summer], I’d never really had a chat with the gaffer [Nigel Adkins] before. I was coming in basically as a fresh face. He said to me: ‘Just show me what you’ve got.’ I did well in pre-season and was told I was going to be staying around. That’s the kind of faith that you want. I’ve got to try and repay it.

“For me, [this season] has been quite good. I’m learning a lot and feel I’m improving every day. Confidence-wise, the boys are good with me and I feel as confident as I can be at this moment.

“Anytime I step on the pitch I’m going to give 100 percent, effort-wise. Jayden [Stockley] helps me a lot. I learn a lot off him. He’s an unbelievable striker, especially in this league, he’s one of the best. Learning off him, I’ve just got to keep learning and hopefully I get a chance to keep playing.”

PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS