Jeffers thanks Curbs

Francis Jeffers pledged to score 20 goals for Charlton this season after a dream full debut at The Valley.

The former Everton and Arsenal striker's first Premiership goals for almost 18 months fired Charlton to a 3-0 win over Aston Villa last night and he is aiming for more of the same at Manchester City on Saturday.

Jeffers' last league goal came in an Arsenal shirt on 2 March last year, ironically in a 2-0 win over Charlton, but the 23-year-old insisted he never doubted his ability to score at the top level.

Jeffers said: "There's a little bit of relief but I always had confidence that if I played I'd score goals because I did it at Everton. There was some relief because I've not scored for a while but I won't be getting carried away. I've had a difficult couple of years and won't get all excited over a couple of goals.

"It makes me more hungry to score next week and the week after that. I hope I can become Charlton's 20-goal striker and my partnership with Kevin Lisbie can only get better. I could've played a bit better but was happy with my goals and it's not a bad start."

Jeffers hit back at detractors who had dismissed him as a failure at the age of 23. After a difficult two seasons following an £8million move to Arsenal, the England international returned to Everton on loan last season, but feels he was never given a chance to prove himself by David Moyes.

He said: "I had no doubts about coming to Charlton and it's a good challenge. The gaffer said he'd play me and give me a fair crack of the whip, which I never got at Everton. The coaching is similar everywhere but the gaffer and the players have made me feel wanted.

"The gaffer has given me confidence when people were starting to doubt me. He has shown a lot of faith. How can you doubt me when I wasn't playing? If I was playing every week and not scoring then fair enough but it wasn't down to me that I wasn't playing." Jeffers only started last night because of Shaun Bartlett's ankle injury but manager Alan Curbishley defended his caution.

He said: "I wouldn't have put him in if Bartlett had been fit, as he's only been here for two weeks. It's okay for Danny Murphy to go into the midfield with people to cover up his mistakes but, given the two years Francis has had, if he gets a chance and doesn't take it the publicity comes back.

"I'm so pleased for him and even the people at Arsenal will be. He did nothing wrong at Arsenal but couldn't get in the side. How could he when Thierry Henry plays every week, scores 25 goals each season, and Arsene Wenger doesn't rotate his side?"

Jeffers' first-half brace was added to by Luke Young's first goal for the club in the 58th minute and Curbishley is hoping to strengthen his squad further by the start of next week.

He added: "I'm still looking to bring one or two players in before Tuesday and we may be able to do that. I'm not going to get carried away but if we can get a good result on Saturday then we can enjoy the international break."

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