Karoy Anderson hungry for more goal returns after first league strike in Charlton’s impressive win at Derby County

Karoy Anderson has got the taste for scoring after his first league goal for Charlton Athletic on Tuesday night – and now he wants more.

The Lewisham-born teenager, 19, made it 2-1 to the Addicks in their midweek win at Derby County.

Anderson, already capped internationally by Jamaica, has been brought back into the midfield by manager Nathan Jones, who recently succeeded Michael Appleton.

Before that the academy product had been struggling to command game time. He did start the League One campaign in Dean Holden’s team but then had a spell without first-team action.

Anderson followed up to score after Daniel Kanu’s initial attempt was saved by Rams keeper Joe Wildsmith.

“I saw DK going in and I trust him to score – but I was there just in case,” Anderson told Charlton TV. “It ricocheted and I landed on it. I just thought about getting a good connection.

“It is a basic skill, connect with it well – there’s a whole goal – so I shouldn’t really miss.”

Asked if he was targeting bumping up his attacking returns, Anderson said:  “Definitely. I feel like I do a lot of running but I need to start rewarding my running with more assists and more goals. Be more clinical, on that side of the pitch.

“My time not being in the side I was watching and learning – still trying to work on myself.

“When you get a manager who comes in and puts faith in you then you have to repay it. I feel like there is nothing better than a manager that can galvanise and push you – also encourage you but tell you where you need to improve. He is really good for me.

“I feel they have put a lot more emphasis on being really aggressive and I like that part of the game. It is not too different (to what he was asked to do before) but there is a higher demand which pushes the whole team.”

Charlton are unbeaten in four matches – three of them draws against Lincoln, Bolton and Portsmouth – before a first win in 17 games as they took down Derby, second in the League One standings.

“The second half performance we really deserved the win,” said Anderson. “For me to get my first league goal here, under these circumstances – get the first three points that we’ve had in a while – is really positive.

“It is really good. The last three games we have built a foundation that is very good – hard-working performances with a lot of desire.

“We know we can play through teams and do the hard side of the game. We combined it. We know we can win games and shouldn’t be settling for anything less than that.

“He (Jones) wasn’t too pleased with the first-half performance and I feel we all knew it wasn’t the level we’ve been at in the last three games. That reality check was needed. We stepped up in the second half and gave all that we could.”

PICTURE: PA