Charlton Athletic manager Lee Bowyer admits he wants to one day manage West Ham United.

Bowyer spent three years as a player for West Ham between 2006 and 2009.

He will come up against his former side in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.

"It's really special [to be going back]. Growing up as a West Ham fan and playing there as well," Bowyer said.

"It's going to be a bit surreal going there as a manager. It's like I've gone through every stage of going to a West Ham stadium, so I'm looking forward to it.

"I have some great memories of my dad taking me as a baby and then I started going with my friends.

"That's probably one of the best moments of my career, as a kid everyone wants to play for the team they support as a kid.

"Having the fans singing my name will be something I never forget so hopefully one day I might be able to manage them, so I can go the full circle."

The two clubs haven't played each other since 2007 when the relationship between the two clubs was a bit frostier owing to West Ham nabbing Jermain Defoe from their academy in 1999.

When pushed on the West Ham links, he added: "Of course [I want to manage West Ham]. I love the club. I played there for a few years. I want to be successful and I have to keep pushing myself.

"West Ham is a club that one day in the future I would like to manage. It's a great club and they've got some great players."