Pat Bauer deserves a hero’s welcome when he returns to The Valley on Sunday says Charlton’s Dillon Phillips.

The German centre-back visits SE7 with his new club Preston to take on the Addicks just six months after scoring possibly the most vital goal in Charlton’s recent history.

Bauer’s strike against Sunderland at Wembley on May 26 secured promotion for Lee Bowyer’s men and it proved to be his last contribution for the side he spent four years with.

Addicks goalkeeper Phillips insists there’ll be no room for sentiment during the 90minutes, knowing they can go level on points with second place Preston with a win, but Bauer should get the reception he earned during his 135 appearances for Charlton.

“He only had to stick it in the net from four yards but that gets you hero status,” Phillips joked.

“But he was great for us last season.

“He’s a good lad and we miss him around the place.

“He deserves all the plaudits when he comes back as he was massive.

“He did a lot for the club when he was here.

“Obviously he’s moved on but that happens in football, hopefully he’s enjoying it up there, but not too much this weekend and we get the result on Sunday.”

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Phillips had a roller-coaster of a day during the play-off final, having an unwanted helping hand in Naby Sarr’s opening own-goal.

That said, it’s not day he’d change for anything.

“I speak about it all the time, but it’s something I’ve said a million times, to have that feeling of wining, I’d do that a thousand times again.

“I was just over the moon with the outcome and it was brushed under the carpet.”

READ:Patrick Bauer returns to Charlton with Preston on Sunday