Charlton Athletic midfielder Josh Cullen has offered an insight into his recovery from injury after making his long-awaited return to the first-team fold on Wednesday night.

The West Ham United loanee played the full 90 minutes in the 0-0 draw with Fulham after being sidelined with injury since the end of November having damaged his ankle ligaments.

And following the game, he offered a further look into the build-up to his return.

“It’s tough on the body but I feel good," Cullen said after the match, reported by London News Online.

"I think I’ll benefit from the game and the 90 minutes – getting back to the level I want to be at.

“I trained twice before the Preston game and twice this week. I’ll be off tomorrow and then in Friday and Saturday training – because I know I’ve still got work to do to get back where I want to be."

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Since returning on loan from West Ham during the summer transfer window, Cullen has made 17 appearances and scored once, assisting a goal as well in that time.

He was a crucial part of the side which won promotion from League One last season too, assisting seven goals and netting two over the cource of 35 games.

The clash between the two London sides finished 0-0 in what was a tightly fought contest with few chances falling the way of either side.

The verdict

It is easy to see why Cullen is so well loved by the Charlton fans.

Any group of fans loves a player who will do anything to be playing football week in week out and who gives 100% on the pitch everytime they step on it - and Cullen does that as much as anyone.

He arguably did not get enough credit during the first-half of the season given the surprising brilliance of Connor Gallagher but his display against Fulham certainly reminded everyone of why he is so crucial to Bowyer's team and their chances of survival.