Charlton v Leicester

CHARLTON striker Luke Varney would love a reunion at The Valley on Saturday with his home-town club who showed him the door as a YTS trainee.

Leicester-born Varney, who joined Charlton from Crewe for £2.5 million in May, was heartbroken when he was shown the door and allowed to drift into semi-professional football with Midland Alliance club Quorn.

He combined football with working in a local factory until Crewe manager Dario Gradi came calling with the offer of a second chance to make the grade.

“I don’t bear any ill-will towards Leicester and don’t have a point to prove,” said Varney. “But I would love to play against them on Saturday.”

Varney made his long-awaited Charlton debut as a 68th minute substitute in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Colchester. On Tuesday he started against Norwich before making way for Izale McLeod in the 80th minute.

McLeod made an instant impact, running the Norwich defence ragged and being brought down for the two penalties that won the game.

“The competition for places up front is so fierce that nobody is guaranteed a place,” said Varney. “Izzy did so well that he could start against Leicester.”

With no injury problems, manager Alan Pardew could name an unchanged side.