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Ace Charles ready to face former fans

27/ 2/2003

CHRIS CHARLES will make a quick return to Craven Park tomorrow night - and the former Robins skipper admits he doesn't know how his former adoring fans will react.

Salford's close-season signing Charles spent eight years at Hull KR, and is hitting form at the right time to guide the Reds through to the quarter-finals of the Powergen Challenge Cup.

But he warns Steve Linane's Rovers will be up for the challenge - and so will the notoriously noisy Humberside fans.

He told Advertiser Sport: "They are quite a young side and I'm sure they'll be looking to pull off a shock.

"It's going to be very strange going back. I'll have friends and family at the game who have been Hull KR fans for a long time but they understand the game and know I had to move on. Other people will make their minds up as to how they react. I gave a lot of time to the club and I hope they realise that."

Charles said Salford's fans have impressed him so far - despite the fact that things on the field have not always ran smoothly.

He said: "The fans have been pretty good. I think they're just getting used to me and the others, but as long as I give 100 per cent each week I'm sure they will appreciate that."

• Steve Blakeley returned to full training this week and could be in line for a place on the bench on Friday.