Chris Powell should receive a warm welcome at The Valley this weekend despite his Southend side looking to get one over his former club says Lee Bowyer.

Powell who spent eight years as a player with the Addicks and managed the side during their promotion winning campaign of 2012 returns with his Shrimpers side looking to end a run of back-to-back defeats.

The full-back is well thought of in SE7 and current Charlton manager Bowyer believes the fact he will be trying to get one over his former club should change that.

“Chris did well here,” said Bowyer.

“He was a player here, like me, he did a good job as manager and deserves all the plaudits.

“Whenever someone does well for a football club they deserve recognition for it and he’s no different.

“I know Chris, I’ve played against him as well and I hope he gets the cheer he deserves.”

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Bowyer’s request comes after a feisty meeting between the two sides in the reverse fixture where three red cards where shown for a last-minute melee at Roots Hall which Charlton won with a late Krystian Bielik strike.

Southend have seen their bid for a play-off spot take a hit in recent weeks after defeats at Luton and Bristol Rovers have left them 11 points adrift in 12th position.

One player who played alongside Powell and worked underneath him was Chris Solly.

Speaking of his former team mate and manager the club captain said:

“Powell being a full back and the age I was at, he was huge for me.

“He was the one that really gave me the confidence to believe in myself, and that I could establish myself in the team.”

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