Lee Bowyer believes injuries hampered Lee Novak’s Charlton career.

Novak left the Addicks to join Saturday’s opponents Scunthorpe on a free transfer last summer.

The striker signed a three-year deal with Charlton in 2016 and was never able to show his true form due to fitness.

Ahead of Novak’s first return to the Valley, Bowyer, who was Charlton’s assistant manager at the time, told News Shopper: “[It didn't work out for him] because in the time I was here, he was injured for most of it.

“He’s a nice lad and he works hard. Whenever he did play for us, he gave 100 per cent. You can’t knock him for that. It just didn't happen for him here.

“Unfortunately as a player sometimes, players are at clubs and it doesn't work out for them.

“He’s gone to Scunthorpe and he’s been scoring some goals. So I wish him all the best. But that’s about it.”

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Novak has scored seven goals for the Iron this season, helping them climb to within a point of sixth-placed Charlton.

He led the line in Charlton’s season opener against Bristol Rovers in August, but was sent off after just six minutes.

The former Birmingham hitman, who netted against AFC Wimbledon last weekend, is unlikely to start against the Addicks after recently returning from a heel injury.

Bowyer added: “Any striker is a danger man. That’s their job - to be danger men and score goals.

“Lee’s been on a little run, coming off the bench and scoring goals.

“It’s not just him, you’ve got other players out there and they can all be dangerous at one stage or another.”

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