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George Tucudean is happy with how he has adjusted to the English game after scoring his second goal for Charlton last night.
The Romanian hit the opener before setting up Johnnie Jackson in the second half as Bob Peeters’s side held off a late onslaught to claim their first home victory in six weeks.
“Yoni [Buyens] gave me a good assist and I did what I have to do to score and everybody’s happy,” said Tucudean, who joined from Standard Liege in the summer.
“We work hard and we have to prove that we can play in England, especially players who are not from this country, we have to get used to this football. I’m adapting very well; it’s different from Belgian and Romanian football — it’s more technical, it’s more physical but up until now it’s fine.”
The striker replaced Igor Vetokele, who is nursing an Achilles problem, while first-team players Chris Solly and Johann Berg Gudmunsson were also sidelined as the manager was forced to name four substitutes below the age of 21.
Asked if Peeters needs to strengthen the squad, Tucudean insisted there are already players with enough quality to step up from the youth ranks.
“We have good players in our academy,” he said. “Step by step they will get in the team, they will become used to the Championship and slowly make the step up to the big team.”
Charlton had dropped points from winning positions on five previous occasions before last night and there was a danger of history repeating itself as the visitors created a host of chances in the closing stages.
Peeters was relieved as his side bounced back from Saturday’s defeat at Bournemouth.
He said: “I think I grew older by 10 years. It was a massive result if you see which players we were missing.”
