Northern Gray settled at Charlton

Yorkshire-born Gray said: “Last year we didn’t really play much together.

“But when we did we played quite well. I seem to know where he’s going to be and hopefully it’s the same for him.

“Luke’s a good player and he can go right to the top. I think he knows that.”

Last year was tough for Gray. The journeyman striker scored only two goals for the Addicks after joining mid-season.

This season it looks as if he has rediscovered his goalscoring touch with three in four games and the 31-year-old is glad to get over his barren spell.

He said: “I’ve always enjoyed it here but things didn’t work out when I came. It’s taken a bit longer than I expected.

“There are a good bunch of lads here – not really any cliques and I’ve settled in fine. The goals didn’t go in last year and it didn’t work out but I’ve always enjoyed it.

“I don’t know why it didn’t work. Sometimes you can’t put your finger on it. Sometimes it just doesn’t happen.

“You don’t turn into a bad player overnight. You just have to believe in yourself and work hard.”

Since Gray joined the club from Burnley there has been an exodus of players from Charlton.

But Gray said the remaining players are not downbeat and that has helped the team to unite.

He said: “Everybody knew at the end of last season that people would go because of the wages. Unless you go straight back up you can’t afford to keep a big squad.

"People make money and that’s football. People accept it and the club must come first. Everybody’s together trying to achieve the same thing.

“With football now you can’t afford to hold on to players who are earning a lot of money because that’s detrimental to the club.

“We’ve got a lot of young lads, a lot of energy, a lot of balance. We’re fitter than most teams, so that’s a good start.”