Philadelphia's Charlie Davies ready for 'proper goodbye' at Revolution

Philadelphia Union new forward Charlie Davies will head back to the Gilette Stadium on Saturday as he prepares for an emotional game against the New England Revolution.

The 30-year-old striker was traded to the Union last week, after scoring 14 goals in 60 appearances for the Revolution and hasn't got a chance to bid farewell.

"For me, it's going to be extremely interesting to go back," Davies told MLSsoccer.com. "But I look forward to it because it's a way for me to have a proper goodbye to the fans and the staff after three good years.

"It's gonna be emotional, especially how things turned out," he said. "It was literally a matter of hours and, all of a sudden, I'm being presented with a trade to Philly.

"But obviously I'm excited and thankful for my time in New England. It's a second family to me."

And while the focus will be on Davies' homecoming, former FC Nantes midfielder Alejandro Bedoya will be in line to make his debut for the club, having crossed over from Ligue 1 to play in the MLS.

With the new duo in his side, Union head coach Jim Curtin is excited at how the team will link up, but insisted that there's "zero pressure" on the new players, and instead, claimed that it is down to the other players and coaching staff to get the best out of them.

"Charlie just needs to do what Charlie does, and that's get on the end of crosses, to be a good target for us, to be a threat to get in behind," Curtin said.

"He'll get service with this group. I'm confident in that. Going to New England, though, he'll have a little extra in it, I think. He spent some very good years there, he enjoyed his time there, but now he's wearing a different shirt."

Curtin's worry about the integration of the new players seems to be unfounded as Davies has already vowed to help deliver success to the club.

"This franchise is deserving of a winning, successful team," Davies said.

"It's a big, master plan and project that [sporting director] Earnie Stewart has put on here and it's extremely attractive and appealing. And I don't think there are too many players who would turn down the opportunity to play here."