Bougherra style makes big impression on Weaver

Their paths failed to cross when they were at Hillsborough, with Weaver playing on loan for the Owls in the 2005-06 campaign and Bougherra arriving last year to spend a few months with them before moving on to Charlton.

Both will be in Alan Pardew's side to face Wednesday tomorrow.

"I can see why we paid 2.5m for Madjid," Weaver told The Star. "He's played in all the games. He's certainly a very good player. But we have leaked goals in both League games. The manager has tried to chop and change the defence around. We'll have to see what he does on Saturday."

Any changes are not likely to see the Addicks axe Bougherra.

Pardew's headache is how to replace on-form new right back Yassin Moutaoukil, who is injured. Owls fans will be surprised to hear that Bougherra is said to be a contender for a switch to this role, but Pardew could decide otherwise.

Weaver, a Wednesday fan, insists that a 1-1 opening-day draw with Scunthorpe and 2-1 defeat at Stoke do not give an accurate reflection of a new-look Charlton team's performances:

"We've only got one point but we could easily have had six," he said. "Like Wednesday we also had a good result in the League Cup (2-0 at Swindon].

"We went one up against Scunthorpe and should have won comfortably. After taking the lead at Stoke, we'd have been disappointed only to come away with a draw, never mind a defeat.

"I saw Wednesday on TV in their Cup-tie against Rotherham. I thought they were perhaps a bit lucky to be going in at half time level at 1-1"

The 28-year-old now seems to be making a habit of playing against the Owls.

He had faced them only twice during his career until he realised an ambition by playing for them the season before last, when he was on loan from Manchester City. Then came the two FA Cup ties for City against Wednesday last season.

"We were happy to go through," he reflects. "They gave us a bit of a scare. They were both good games (a 1-1 draw at Hillsborough and a 2-1 City win in the replay).

Lee Bullen - scorer of a terrific headed equaliser in the second Cup match - marked Weaver's summer transfer to The Valley by sending him a text saying: "I'll try not to put one past you this year"!

Weaver thought at one stage that he was staying at City but the takeover there changed that: "What happened was a big surprise. I was offered a contract, then it wasn't on the table; they wanted to wait until the new owners came in.

"I was due to sign it on the day that Stuart Pearce got sacked.

"Charlton came in, and I was happy to agree a deal with them. I'd been at City 10 years; I also got to thinking a move would be good for me, like the loan move to Wednesday gave me a lift the season before last. I’ve really enjoyed it with Charlton.

“I wish Wednesday well and I want them to go up the table, but I’m a Charlton player now and my loyalty is with them.”

The Owls will renew acquaintances with Bougherra for the first time since his controversial departure. Says Brian Laws: “Madjid made his decision; I was upset at the time, but you move on; you can’t hold a player who wants to go.

“He’s a excellent footballer who was a crowd-pleaser for us. What reception he’ll get, who knows?”