NICKY Bailey says he doesn’t care what kind of reception Charlton fans give him when he returns to The Valley with rivals Millwall this season.

Bailey was a popular figure in SE7 during his two-year spell with the Addicks before heading north to join Middlesbrough after missing the crucial play-off penalty against Swindon in 2010 which ended Charlton’s promotion hopes.

But after three years in the north-east, Bailey is back in London with Millwall and although the playmaker knows he may not get a good reception when he goes back to The Valley, the midfielder isn’t fussed.

“I have already been back to Charlton once and I got a bit of stick but some of them were alright,” he said.

“That’s football, part and parcel of it.

“I’m home now, back down in London so I’m buzzing to be back down here.

“If I don’t get a good reception it doesn’t bother me, I will just get on with it.

“Spending three years in the north-east was hard, as it is a long way away.

“I tried to get back down as much as I could.

“Once I knew I wasn’t going to be staying at Boro I didn’t really want to stay up north, so when I knew Millwall had come in for me we tried to get something sorted as quickly as we could.”

Bailey is one of a number of midfield players new boss Steve Lomas has attracted to The Den this summer and the 29-year-old knows he has to work hard in order to earn a first-team spot.

The well-travelled midfield man will miss this weekend’s game with Yeovil but is hoping to get a run out against AFC Wimbledon in the League Cup next week.

“We have a big squad and a lot of good players,” Bailey said.

“I have played against a lot of the boys and it is easier coming into a team when you know some of them.

“Obviously I have been playing catch up fitness wise too, but I feel alright.

“If I keep putting in the hard work then maybe I can be ready for the cup game next week.

“I will have to work hard and try and do the business on the pitch to get into the team.

“If I do that then hopefully I will play a lot of games.

“As long as we stick together I think it can be a good season for us.”

The midfield general is relishing running out at The Den and Bailey knows the fans will have a huge role to play this season to make their home a fortress.

“I played here a few times before and you know what you’re going to get from them,” he said.

“If we can make it a hard place to come, other teams are going to have a problem.”

Follow us on Twitter @NewsShopperSprt