‘He’ll have a point to prove’ – Charlton boss Dean Holden on Valley return this weekend for Jayden Stockley

Jayden Stockley heads back to Charlton Athletic on Saturday with manager Dean Holden fully expecting his former striker to have “a point to prove”.

The Addicks sold the centre-forward for an undisclosed fee to Fleetwood Town before the January transfer window closed.

Stockley, 29, scored on his debut for the Cod Army, a 3-2 home reverse to Burton, but was ineligible to feature in their FA Cup tie against Sheffield Wednesday last weekend.

He netted 23 goals in 68 starts for the Addicks.

Holden told the South London Press: “He’s probably going to come with a point to prove, and so would I if I was him.

“Since I took over I’ve given Dobbo (George Dobson) the captaincy and he didn’t really feature much.

“The one thing I would say on it is that he left on good terms, in terms of discussions with him, the club and Fleetwood – it was done in the right way. Fleetwood came through the front door to do the deal, full respect to them for that.

“Jayden was honest with me as much as I was honest with him. He knew that his game time would be limited because of Miles Leaburn’s progression and we’d brought Macauley Bonne to the club.

“It’s the way it is in football sometimes, you’ve got decisions to make as a manager. Sometimes it’s about how you go about those decisions – not making them. I was very honest with Jayden, as I was with every player who left the football club.

“He rang me on deadline day, before the move was announced, and thanked me for the way I’d treated him in the time I’d been at the club. He obviously wasn’t playing but there is a way to treat footballers, particularly the ones who are not in the team. He was grateful for that.

“I wish him well. He’s a great fella, hopefully he can get himself going at Fleetwood.”

MAIN PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD