Former Huddersfield Town striker Lee Novak aims to help Charlton Athletic back to the Championship at the first time of asking.

And the 27-year-old could have another ex-Town man, midfielder Duane Holmes, alongside him at The Valley.

New manager Russell Slade has beaten off stiff competition to bring in Novak on a three-year deal.

And the former Cardiff City chief is keen on Holmes, 21, who left Town at the end of last season.

The American-born player scored his only senior goal to date in Town’s 5-0 home win over Charlton in January.

Novak netted 15 goals for League I Chesterfield last season after being loaned out by Birmingham City.

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He joined Blues from Town on a three-year deal in 2013 after scoring 42 times in 172 games and helping the John Smith’s Stadium club win promotion through the League I play-offs in 2012.

Now he’s after another third-tier success after Charlton’s relegation from the Championship.

“That has to be the target,” said the former Gateshead player.

“A club this size, we’ve got to be looking to get promoted and get back up the leagues to where the club belongs.

“I’m really hopeful that we can achieve that next season.

“Like every league, you need to get off to a good start and that is what we want to do here.

“We want a good start, a good team spirit and the belief that we can challenge for promotion.”

Novak became Slade’s second signing of the summer after Northampton Town midfielder Ricky Holmes.

And the Geordie was impressed with what the gaffer had to say.

“He was hugely important in me signing,” he explained.

“He was brilliant from the first meeting - I haven’t worked with him before but he was a big part of why I’ve decided to come here.

“This is a huge club, the facilities are brilliant and the gaffer’s plans and aims for the club were a real attraction.

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“We spoke about the way he likes to play, his training methods, what he wants from me as an individual but most importantly what he wants from us as a team.

“I’ll be more than happy to try and get in that team and hopefully I can score goals and help the club.”