Josh Parker is grateful for the warm reception he received when he was applauded off the pitch during Charlton’s 2-1 playoff semi-final first leg win at Doncaster Rovers on Sunday.

The striker, who was substituted for skipper Jason Pearce in the 67th minute, received a standing ovation as supporters sang: “There’s only one Josh Parker”.

Parker has yet to score for Charlton since joining in the January transfer window but the luckless forward’s efforts have not gone unnoticed.

Starting in his second consecutive game, his high work rate unsettled the Rovers defence as he went close to scoring with a header inside the box.

While Parker admits he expects himself to score those types of chances, the reception he received was one he felt pleased by.

“It was unreal for me because the fans haven't got to see a lot of me, and that's no fault of my own, that's just because other people have been doing their job very well, so for me it was a very nice reception,” he said after the Doncaster game.

“One that I've been trying to work for a long time, and now that I've got two games back-to-back, it feels like I'm getting there slowly.”

Parker, whose last goal came when he was at Gillingham on Boxing Day last year, some 15 games ago, has impressed both Addicks boss Lee Bowyer and teammates with his work rate and possession play.

While he admits it’s been hard to bide his time and stay motivated, the striker stresses he is a “realist” and has picked up on another Charlton forward’s behaviour to help get himself firing again.

Asked about whether it’s been easy waiting for his chances, Parker said: “If I'm honest, no, because everyone feels like they should be playing but, as I said, I'm not going to sit here and say I deserve a place.

“The team was winning when I came in and, when I haven't been playing, the team has been winning [as well].

“I'm not one to sit here and be unrealistic and be like, 'I should be playing, I should be playing more'. My mind doesn't work like that because I'm a realist.

“For me it was just a matter of staying quiet, looking at what Igor [Vetokele] has been doing, his work rate when he was playing, and trying to pick up where he left off.

“Me and Igor are quite close and he had two or three games where he was missing sitters for him. In training he was putting them away for fun but, when you're tired and the tempo gets on top of you, you have a lapse of concentration.

“After two or three games he started hitting his form and he was almost unplayable, so I think it's very similar for myself.

“I just came off a cramp today [against Doncaster], I was tired, but I can feel myself getting closer to it. I think, with hard work, the rewards will come.”