The chance to work with Lee Bowyer again was the deciding factor in Josh Cullen’s return to Charlton.

Having spent last season on loan at The Valley the West Ham midfielder re-joined the Addicks for another season last Wednesday, hours after being told by Hammers manger Manuel Pellegrini he should look elsewhere for game time.

Cullen, 23, admitted there were a number of clubs keen on his signature, but the draw of returning to work under the Bowyer was too big.

“He was a massive factor why I came back,” Cullen said.

“Knowing the manager as well as I do from last season, knowing how he wants his team to play, how he wants me to play, obviously I felt I improved under him as a player with him playing a similar position, I thought it was the right place to be.

“He knows what he’s going to get from me, I know what he wants me to do and how he wants me to go about my business.”

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Bowyer on Charlton's Stoke City win

Cullen, a key figure in Charlton’s promotion winning campaign last season, was drafted straight into the Bowyer’s starting XI against Stoke City on Saturday, impressing alongside Darren Pratley and Conor Gallagher in the 3-1 win.

“To come back in, straight into the team, I’m delighted to help the lads build on a great result they got last week at Blackburn," he continued.

“To get back in the swing of things and hit the ground running was the plan, and thankfully that happened today.

“We know the Championship is a tough league and we aren’t going to get carried away after winning two games from two.

“We can’t take our foot off the gas in training, and we’ll be back in Monday morning working hard, preparing to go to Barnsley and get another positive result.

“We’re a newly promoted club, let’s get to that 50-point mark as soon as we can, make sure we are safe and go from there, but we’ll go into every game believing we can win it.

“We’ll take it step by step, game by game and hopefully have a successful season.”

Charlton host Forest Green in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.