Charlton signed two players from Bradford in the summer of 2017, Billy Clarke and Mark Marshall.

Marshall was the Bantams’ reigning Player of the Year‎ while Clarke, though popular with the Valley Parade faithful, was not as highly rated.

Marshall had a golden season under Stuart McCall in 2016/17, certainly far better than anything he had previously produced.

Marshall’s switch to The Valley has not been a success thus far. An injury in a pre-season game at Stevenage set him back, but he did show glimpses of his Bradford form when he returned.

He lacked consistency though, and it was thought the Addicks were ready to listen to offers for him in the summer.

But Lee Bowyer made it clear he wanted to retain the winger’s services. Marshall was even used as an experimental wing-back in pre-season.

Again though, he has drifted down the pecking order and remains a peripheral figure.

Clarke’s journey went in the opposite direction in his early days at The Valley. He was the creative talent behind many‎ of Charlton’s better attacking moves.

Calm, with good vision, Clarke looked set to have a good season.

But he suffered a serious knee injury at Blackburn last December, and has not played since.

It has been a tough time for Clarke. His family home is still in the Bradford area, but he shares a London apartment with AFC Wimbledon’s Liam Trotter.

After months of recovery and countless hours in the gym, there is finally light at the end of the tunnel for Clarke.

On Monday, he‎ played 45minutes for Jason Euell’s Under-23 side against Ipswich. As long as there is no reaction, Clarke will feature for Euell’s side against Coventry on Friday.

There is still a long way to go, but the Irishman’s return will be a real boost for Lee Bowyer. It will‎ be like a new signing.