PHIL Parkinson says he has no idea if Sheffield Wednesday keeper Nicky Weaver will be returning to The Valley on Saturday with something to prove.

Weaver arrived in SE7 in 2007 following the Addicks’ relegation from the Championship and although a regular in his first season, a dip in form the following year led to the stopper’s departure once his contract ran out.

Weaver initially headed to SPL outfit Dundee United before arriving at Hillsborough via Burnley and the 31-year-old has been an ever present for the Owls this season.

This Saturday sees his first appearance back at The Valley but his former manager said he wasn’t the right person to ask as to whether Weaver would come with a burning desire to prove him wrong.

Parkinson explained: “You will have to ask Nick that, I don’t know.

“His contract came to an end, there is no big story there.

“Nicky didn’t have the best of times here and by his own admission the first season he did ok and the second season wasn’t his greatest.

“He was fine as a lad and got on well with everybody. Last year he went to Scotland and Burnley and this year he has ended up with Sheffield Wednesday.

“They are a strong, solid team who have come down a division and I’m sure it is going to be a tight game.

“There might be a set piece, or a substitute who comes off the bench and changes it – we’ve all got to be prepared to go right until the last minute of the game on Saturday.

“That isn’t just the 11 who start but the subs, myself and all of the supporters as well because it is a big game for us.”

Parkinson and his side were booed off after their last Valley game against Brighton but the boss, who will be celebrating his 100th game in charge, urged fans to stick with his side when asked how significant it would be as to who scored first.

He said: “I think it is important but what if we don’t get the first goal?

“How are the supporters going to react and how are the players going to react?

“That is important because it is alright me saying we’ve got to score the first goal today but sometimes you might be unlucky and you might not score it.

“Of course we will be very positive from the very start of the game but we’ve got to make The Valley a difficult place for opposition players to play.

“I think that is key for our players and supporters on Saturday.

“We’ve got to make it as uncomfortable as possible for Sheffield Wednesday and that is we intend to do.”

Parky added: “The Valley has great surroundings and it is a great place to play but it is so important it becomes an intimidating place almost from our supporters.

“Obviously I’m asking the supporters to get right behind us and I think for the majority of the season they’ve been terrific.

“I understood their reaction (against Brighton) but it might not go all our own way at the start of the game.

“It might do but whatever happens, stick with the team. It is their team, it is their club.

“We are creeping up the table again and a good result on Saturday will get us in that top six.”

And even though many fans have been critical in recent weeks of Parkinson, the man himself believes his own record stands up when you examine the stats ahead of his 100th appearance in the dugout.

Parkinson said: “Hopefully I can be here for many more.

“It is my 100th game and the record isn’t too bad over that period of time.

“Hopefully it will keep improving and I can improve as a manager. If I do that the team will keep improving and we can be successful together.”