Lee cook aims to spur charlton to promotion

CHARLTON may have been disappointed to settle for a draw against Watford, but one player was delighted just be playing.

Loan signing Lee Cook has had a frustrating time since joining Fulham last summer and is yet to play a match for the Premier League side because of injury.

But on Saturday, the left winger made his second substitute appearance in a week for the Addicks and is hoping to put his injury torment behind him.

"It has been an absolute nightmare for me but coming out today makes it all worth it," he said after Saturday's match. "You miss six or seven months out with injury but this reminds you what a great job it is to have. A couple of lads said welcome back and that was a great feeling.

"I told the fans when I first joined not to expect me to be fine straight away, I need a couple of games first tot get up to speed. I've come on twice now for half an hour so hopefully in the next couple of weeks I'll get a start under my belt and produce a 90 minutes worthy of staying in the team for the net game."

Former Queens Park Rangers player, Cook said he jumped at the chance to join Charlton in the transfer window.

Things looked good for Cook when Fulham signed him for £2.5million in July before injury left his season in tatters. Now he wants to repay Charlton boss Alan Pardew for giving him a lifeline.

"When I went to Fulham people had heard about me and were expecting quite a lot, and I was ready for the challenge," said the 25-year-old. "When the injury happened I couldn't believe it, it was a difficult time for me and my family, but Fulham have sent me here to get some games and help me get fit.

"In doing that I want to help Charlton get promoted and see what happens at the end of the season."

And the new signing is also confident there is enough quality in the Charlton team to achieve promotion.
"I've been impressed with the back four, they've been absolutely solid," he said. "Paddy McCarthy has been superb, I haven't seen him miss a header yet.

"Luke Varney makes some great runs aswell and you've got Zizi and Matt Holland in the middle with their experience. It's a premiership side.

"We know it's hard to get there, because this is the hardest league to get out of, but we're confident we can do that."