George Dobson hopes to repay faith Charlton boss Johnnie Jackson has shown in him

BY LOUIS MENDEZ

Charlton midfielder George Dobson says he hopes to repay the faith that boss Johnnie Jackson has put in him.

Dobson started each of the first four league games of this season under Nigel Adkins but appeared to be frozen out by the former boss, featuring just once between the end of August and Adkins’ sacking in early October.

The 24-year-old, signed during the summer after leaving fellow League One outfit Sunderland, was brought straight back into the first team by Jackson during his first outing as caretaker boss against Dobson’s former club at the Stadium of Light back in October.

And the Harold Wood born engine roomer has started every league game under Jackson since and is almost certain to be named as the club’s player of the year in a few weeks’ time.

“That’s football,” said Dobson, when asked if he felt he had something to prove after being left out by Adkins.

“You have some gaffers who like what you do and some gaffers who don’t. That’s part and parcel of the game. I was just waiting for my opportunity and thankful for the gaffer that he gave it to me. I just try to repay his faith.

“When he put me in up at Sunderland the gaffer was like this is your opportunity. I’ve just been trying to play like every opportunity is my last to stay in the team. I’ll continue to do that every time I get picked. I’m loving playing for the club, loving being here. I really want us to push on next season and be at the right end of the table. This club, we shouldn’t be sitting in mid-table.

“I think I’ve just tried to give everything every time I’ve played. I’ve tried to leave everything out on the field. I’ll continue to do that every time I’ve picked.”

Despite an impressive personal campaign, Dobson is well aware that the Addicks must improve next year after failing to feature in the race for promotion.

He added: “The way we started the season was nowhere near good enough. We were 23^rd after 13-14 games which is a tough mountain to climb. The standard of the top eight or nine this year has been so strong. It’s probably going to be one of the highest play-off points totals that you’ll see.

“We’ve shown with performances like today [during Saturday’s win at Rotherham] that we can beat anyone. With Jayden [Stockley] and Conor [Washington] in the team, we’ve been a match for anyone. It’s just about consistently churning out the performances and building on games like today. Taking it into the start of the season and making sure we start fast, not giving ourselves too hard of a mountain to climb.”

PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS