Liam Manning sends stern warning to Huddersfield Town’s Dion Charles | OneFootball

Charles has just two goals in 24 League One appearances

Huddersfield Town boss Liam Manning has said he “can’t wait forever” for striker Dion Charles to hit form.

The comments came following a shock 1-0 defeat away from home for the Terriers, against relegation-threatened Doncaster Rovers.

Charles had another quiet game, which has been a trend so far this season for the 30-year-old frontman.

It sparked hostility from the travelling fans, but it appears Manning can understand where they’re coming from.

It was a tough outing against Doncaster Rovers

Charles was brought off just past the hour mark at the Eco-Power Stadium, having failed to level a single shot at Thimothee Lo-Tutala’s goal.

He got just 24 touches of the ball and attempted just nine passes, five of which reached their intended target, so it’s difficult to make a case for the Northern Ireland international having made any impact at all on the game.

As reported by News Shopper, Charles was jeered off as he left the field.

That will do little for his confidence, but Manning appears to understand where the reaction comes from.

Speaking after the game, as quoted by News Shopper, Manning said: “I thought Dion could cause them problems tonight, but it’s quite clear he’s low on confidence.

“It’s something we need to get around and make sure we give him a lift because we will need him ultimately.

“He’s done it at this level, so he has to step up and deliver because we can’t keep waiting.

“My role is sometimes to show people support and help them through these spells but, other times, I have to make tough decisions and leave people out because you can’t wait forever.”

It has been a difficult season for the former Bolton Wanderers man, having managed just two goals in 24 League One outings, although he has provided five assists, some in finely balanced games, and added another two goals in the Vertu Trophy.

“It will be in Dion’s head now,” Manning continued. “We can tell players how great they are, show them goals they’ve scored before and talk about their records, but if your first three actions in a game are poor, you’re not going to be thinking whether I’ve got confidence in you or not.

“Players need mental toughness and taking flak, and stick is part and parcel of football. You have to use that as fuel to prove people wrong.”

Manning will be hoping to spark a response from Charles with his comments, but the Terriers boss has plenty of other options if that does work.

Alfie May will soon be back from suspension, and they have Wrexham man Ryan Hardie on loan, two other proven goalscorers at this level who aren’t Manning’s only options.

If Charles can’t play his way back into form, it’s clear he’s likely to be spending more time on the bench.

Dion Charles has been on the wrong side of fans from the start

It’s never nice to be criticised by your own supporters, but Charles arguably got off on the wrong foot from the very start.

He signed from Bolton for a fee of £750,000 last January, and in just over a year has just four goals in 50 appearances.

Two months after joining, Charles was injured as the Terriers suffered a damaging 4-0 defeat on the road against Charlton Athletic.

To add insult to injury, the striker was pictured in the away end with Bolton fans on the same day, as the Trotters faced Blackpool, with Bolton one of the sides Huddersfield were battling with for a play-off spot.

“I think ultimately he has probably been a bit naïve with the context of it being another team in our league,” boss at the time, Jon Worthington, told BBC Radio Leeds.

Charles apologised to Worthington the next morning, but it was a difficult one to take for fans who were still making their first impressions of the new man.

Acts like that are quickly forgiven and brushed under the carpet when the goals are flying in, but that hasn’t been the case with Charles.

Charles needs a strong end to the season to prove to those fans, and Manning, what he can do at this level.