Sheffield Wednesday loanee Sean Clare faces former club Charlton Athletic on Monday
Published: 00:00, 31 December 2017
Updated: 08:38, 31 December 2017
Sean Clare will be in familiar territory when he heads to Charlton with the Gills.
The on-loan Sheffield Wednesday midfielder spent five years at Charlton as a youngster before quitting the club to get an education.
He’s heading back to The Valley with a haul of A-B grade A-levels to his name, a triple distinction star in BTEC Sport and an A-level in biology.
Clare, who created both of Gillingham’s goals in the 2-2 draw with AFC Wimbledon on Saturday, said: “I stepped out of the academy and focused on my education but I was always in love with the game.
“I played (at The Valley) before when I was at the academy and I scored there. Hopefully I can do it again. It will be nice to go back.
“It will be my first time back as a professional and I am looking forward to it.”
Clare will be familiar with several players too.
He was in the Charlton youth section along with the likes of Karlan Ahearne-Grant and Ezri Konsa Ngoyo and played alongside Anfernee Dijksteel at the Nike Academy, whom he joined once he had returned to the game.
Looking ahead to his return, he said: “Once we get out on the pitch it will be like any other game. I will just be looking to work hard and do my best.
“There might be a little added heat in the game, there was a little bit here (at Priestfield when the Gills beat Charlton 1-0). If we play how I know we can I believe we can beat them.
“We will go there with full confidence because we know that if we play like we have been and finish off our chances then we are capable of beating anyone in the league.”
Clare was named man-of-the-match on Saturday and created both goals but the Gills couldn’t hold on for a win.
“I think we deserved the three points,” said the 21-year-old, who scored against the Dons in their meeting earlier in the season.
“It felt like a loss but the performance was still good. We need to take the positives onto Charlton.”
Clare is now set to extend his loan spell with the Gills for the remainder of the season.
“I have really enjoyed it here,” he said.
“The fans and the players have been great and the staff as well. The players welcomed me and made it easy for me. I would like to stay."
More news and reaction from the Gills in Monday's Medway Messenger newspaper
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Luke Cawdell