Brazilian warm-up for ex-Owls defender

Charlton's ex-Wednesday defender is in the Algeria squad to face the Brazilians in Montpelier, France, tonight.

The 13-cap centre half joined the national squad for training at the start of the week.

Charlton are hoping that he comes through tonight's match unscathed as they prepare to face the Owls at The Valley on Saturday

It will be Bougherra's first game against his old club since he left Hillsborough in January, for a transfer fee of 2.5m plus 500,000 in possible add-ons.

Tonight he will be up against stars such as Kaka, Robinho and Ronaldinho Because he was hit by injuries he made only a handful of appearances for the Addicks last season and failed to realise his ambition of playing regular Premiership football. That aim was also the main reason why he left Hillsborough.

But he has played in both of Charlton's first two Championship matches after their relegation: a 1-1 draw at home to Scunthorpe and a 2-1 defeat at Stoke.

Manager Alan Pardew is not worried by his team's low-key start to the season: "I know we've got some very good individuals here and it's a case of moulding them into a team, which we will do.

"It was not a disgrace to lose to Stoke. There are only seven or eight teams in the division who are as good or better than them at home. They are a big and strong side who do what they do very well. We were unlucky to lose (right back] Yassin Moutaouakil to injury early in the second half and I think that cost us the game.

"I was disappointed with the result against Scunthorpe but not the performance. Defensively we can do better but offensively we caused them a lot of problems."

The Owls' Carling Cup second-round home tie against Hartlepool will be played next Tuesday (7.45pm).