ONCE a Dagger, always a Dagger – that was the message from Charlton midfielder Danny Green following the Addicks’ 2-0 win over his old side Dagenham & Redbridge.

Last night was the wideman’s first first appearance back at the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham Stadium since departing the Essex club for SE7 in summer 2011.

And despite being an established member of Chris Powell’s squad since his arrival, Green admitted his Dagenham career is something he will always look back on with fond memories.

“I’ve still got a lot of friends here,” he said.

“When you play for Dagenham it becomes almost like a family, so I have still got a lot of friends and family here and it was lovely to be back.

“This is a great club and I will always love it here.

“Once you’re a Dagger, you are always a Dagger so to speak.

“Wayne Burnett has taken over now and I’m sure the family atmosphere around the club will continue, but he will play his own style of football.”

Once the game kicked off though, Green and his team-mates intended to continue their excellent pre-season form.

And they did that, mainly due to an excellent first half display which featured a number of slick passing moves.

Green lined up on the right of a front three, with Callum Harriott occupying the other wing and Yann Kermorgant as the central striker.

And he is hoping that the adjustment in system from last term’s 4-4-2 formation will enable him to earn himself a more regular starting role.

Green said: “That’s the main thing, what I want to do really is to nail down a starting role.

“I was disappointed last year, I think I played about 18 games but in my first season I played between 35 and 40 so it was really disappointing for me.

“I’m looking to nail down a spot by working as hard as I can.

“You could see in the first half everyone wants to play.

“We had another 11 in the second half that came on who are just as good, so you have just got to try to nail down your position and work as hard as you can.”

He added: “Me and Sols (Chris Solly) combined really well down the right-hand side and the three midfield boys, especially Jordan Cousins who I thought was quality, we excellent.

“And then Callum popped up with a goal, so all-round it was a really good night.”

Green picked out Solly for praise, but the winger also added to his mention of young Jordan Cousins, who excelled just in front of the back four in a defensive midfield role.

“Chris Solly is a great player, his energy is quality but his feet and his touches are great too,” said Green.

“He has got brilliant technical ability.

“When you play in front of him or Lawrie Wilson, you know you’re comfortable and you don’t have to overly worry about getting back because they can probably take two players out of the game.

“Solly is a quality player to play with.”

On Cousins, Green added: “He has been brilliant.

“For me, against Gibraltar he was different class and then when we played Portsmouth he came on and did really well and did the same at AFC Wimbledon.

“He has looked really good.

“His passing ability is quality and he is really comfortable on the ball.

“He has done really well.”

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