ACCRINGTON Stanley have suffered a goalkeeper blow with Rob Elliot being recalled by Premiership strugglers Charlton Athletic.

The 20-year-old stopper returned to the Addicks yesterday despite agreeing a season-long loan at the Fraser Eagle Stadium.

Elliot endured a frustrating start to his second season in East Lancashire, finding himself second choice to Ian Dunbavin, despite being instrumental in steering Stanley back into the Football League after a 44-year absence and being named the club's player of the year.

It was only around the turn of this year that Elliot forced his way back to first choice for Reds manager John Coleman, after Dunbavin sustained a knee injury.

But Elliot will be back at The Valley on Monday and he has immediately set his sights on claiming ownership of the reserve team gloves.

"To be honest, it's good to be back," said Elliot. "I missed the quality of the coaching and the facilities and hopefully I can get straight back into the reserves.

"Overall my time at Accrington was a great experience. Things didn't go quite according to plan for me this season but last season was fantastic and I'm sure I've improved my game."

Elliot was involved in 11 games for Stanley in the first half of the League Two campaign and impressed in the Johstone's Paint Trophy with penalty shoot-out heroics against Carlisle United and Blackpool.

And while he leaves the Reds, Elliot believes there is enough quality in the squad to avoid relegation back to the Conference.

He said: "Their (Stanley) form at the moment isn't relegation form and they shouldn't be where they are anyway.

"I know it's a new league for them, but they have enough quality in the squad to do well in League Two.

"They're not silly enough to aim too high but they should at least be around the middle teams and I think they're just starting to put a nice run together."