The full-back played just eight times for City - five starts and three from the bench - during a loan spell from Nottingham Forest in March 1989.

He'd started his career at the City Ground and was given his debut by non-other than Brian Clough, although he was used as an emergency right winger. He arrived at Leicester young and inexperienced but his initial loan deal was extended by City thanks to his impressive performances.

He actually won an England U21 call-up following his good performances with Leicester and was to get full international honours after returning to Forest. But when Forest started to struggle in the top-flight, so did Charles's performances and he left for close rivals Derby County on a permanent basis in July 1993.

Charles was actually in the Rams team that lost in the play-offs against City in 1994 and could have had a return to Filbert Street when Brian Little was chasing his services. But Little's move to Aston Villa saw the full-back go the same way and he spent four years at Villa Park.

A move abroad to Benfica followed before Charles returned to his homeland to play for West Ham United and Birmingham City, on loan.