HE’S busy as a new father – but there’s no way Huddersfield Town's Alan Lee is taking his eye off football.

Ten days on from the birth of daughter Eva, the 34-year-old frontman enjoyed another high when he helped Town to that vital 2-1 win over Middlesbrough on Tuesday.

With his team trailing to Scott McDonald’s 79th-minute goal, the popular Irishman came off the bench to notch an 87th-minute equaliser with his first touch, then helped Town pile on the pressure which finally told through Danny Ward’s impressive stoppage-time winner.

It was a crucial three points towards Town’s campaign for Championship survival, and Lee is ready to do it all again when Charlton visit the John Smith’s Stadium this afternoon.

“It’s been a busy time, but I’m certainly not complaining,” smiled likeable Lee, who having helped Town win promotion last season, promptly signed a new one-year contract.

“When it comes to Eva, my wife Catherine’s the one doing all the hard work, especially during the night. She’s a wonderful mother and I’m lucky to have the pair of them.

“I’ve been able to train as normal, and after struggling with a knee problem earlier in the season, I’m feeling great.

“Being able to get minutes on the pitch by starting the recent FA Cup games against Leicester and Wigan has really helped me as well.

“I’d like to make a few more starts, but I’m not going to complain if the manager wants to use me from the bench.

“However I do it, my main aim is to help this club stay in the Championship, where we belong.”

Tuesday’s outing was a 17th from the bench in 20 appearances this season for Lee, who played alongside new Town manager Mark Robins in the Rotherham side who won promotion to the Championship in 2001.

Not that he’s looking for any special treatment!

“I started off the season knowing I had to prove to the previous manager (Simon Grayson) that I could play a part, and it’s exactly the same with the current boss,” explained the Galway-born former Republic of Ireland international who joined Town in August 2010 after two years with Charlton’s South London rivals Crystal Palace.

“If you need a goals from the bench, my stats back up that I can help provide them. Many times over the course of my career I’ve had 10 minutes or so on the pitch and made a mark.

“The Middlesbrough game was a great example. I felt we played really well throughout, but just struggled for that final incisive touch in front of goal.

“When you change your tactics and get a big man on, sometimes it’s upsets the opposition defence, and that’s what happened.

“We certainly didn’t deserve to be a goal behind, and I always felt we could at least get back into the game, if not go on and win it.”

With fog reducing visibility within the stadium, many fans struggled to see Lee’s second goal of the season, 12th for Town and 119th of his club career.

“It was an overhead volley from 15 yards with my weaker left foot,” he quipped.

“To be fair, it was a bit of a poacher’s effort. Danny Ward put in a great corner, Skip (Peter Clarke) got in a good header, the keeper (Jason Steele) dropped it and it forced it in off a post.

“It might not win any awards, but it was a great feeling!”

Ward, making his first appearance after two months out with a broken metatarsal, went on to drill in a sizzling winner.

And Lee continued: “It was great to see Danny make such an impact.

“He’s not been back in training that long, but you could sense how eager he was in the build-up to Tuesday’s game. He even bounced me out of the way to get to one ball!

“We’ve missed his hammer left foot. It was a great strike and I was delighted for him. He’s back up and running and a great asset to us.”

Lee also hailed the input of midfielder Oscar Gobern, who is back in the much after missing much of the season with an ankle injury which needed surgery, saying: “He was a giant for us against Middlesbrough.”