Charlton’s Charlie Kirk: I’m loving life back in London at the moment

He struggled to acclimatise to life down south last season – but Charlie Kirk is back in London now and looking to resurrect his Charlton Athletic career.

The winger, who has found himself filling in up top recently following Miles Leaburn’s injury, was signed from Crewe Alexandra at the start of last summer but struggled to settle in his new surroundings.

He returned to the north west on loan for the second half of last season, joining Championship side Blackpool.

But Kirk is back with the Addicks now and hopes to build on the brace that he grabbed during Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Burton Albion.

Kirk said: “I’ve loved [being back]. I feel like a different person on and off the pitch. Loving life down in London at the minute. I just want it to continue.

“Any 23-year-old moving away on his own to London is a big thing. I think I was ready at the time….maybe I wasn’t, who knows? I’ve settled in much better now.

“I feel like I should have had a lot more goals than I have this season. A good finish for the first and I enjoyed the second one, chipping the keeper. I do that a lot in training. I chip Jojo [Wollacott] all the time in training, so I enjoyed that one.

“I’ve never played up-front before, but I’ve adapted quite well to playing up near Jayden [Stockley]. I’ve just got to keep getting close to him. Sometimes I may drift out a bit wide because I’m a left-winger. But I’m watching clips and just trying to get better in that position.

“I can score goals. I scored double figures in two seasons [at Crewe]. There are goals there. I just need to start showing it a bit more.”

The arrival of Ben Garner as Addicks boss in the summer afforded Kirk a chance of a clean slate – but he admitted the new man in charge also had to have some stern words after a poor performance earlier in the campaign.

“It was after the Bolton game,” explained Kirk.

“I’d had a really bad game and I came into training – the standard, I knew myself wasn’t there. I knew I wouldn’t be in the squad. That was the kick up the arse I needed. Since then, I’ve been good. It was an off week from me. I can’t behave like that, attitude wise.

“He’s been nothing but good to me. He’s had trust in me. That all I can ask for in a gaffer. I’ve not got a bad word to say.”

PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS