Charlton winger Mark Marshall will miss out on an emotional return to Bradford on Saturday.

The 30-year-old joined the Addicks on a free transfer in the summer after rejecting a new Bantams deal.

And he would have been making a first return to Valley Parade if it wasn’t for a thigh problem.

Marshall has been plagued by injuries since arriving in SE7 – and is putting any emotions aside to regain his fitness.

He told Valley Pass: “I’m gutted that I’ve got the injury.

“I need to make sure that I’m right. I don’t want to force myself to get back for the Bradford game for emotional reasons and risk doing more damage to myself.

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“It would have been nice to have been there but hopefully the team can go there and get a good result.

“Bradford are a good side. They’re sitting in third but we have shown a lot of quality so far this season and, fingers crossed, we can go there and get a win.”

Marshall was an ever-present in Stuart McCall’s side that nearly reached the Championship last season.

His last appearance in a Bradford shirt came in the League One play-off final defeat to Millwall.