Charlie Adam to join Dundee for testimonial game

Charlie Adam will play for hometown club Dundee in Julian Speroni’s testimonial match after the Crystal Palace goalkeeper revealed the midfielder had made a special request to appear.

Charlie Adam: Dundee fan. Picture: AP

Adam played against Speroni last month for Stoke City in their 2-1 defeat by the London club and made a bee-line for the former Dundee goalkeeper afterwards.

The 29-year-old Scotland international wondered if it would be possible to appear for the Dens Park club in Speroni’s benefit match because he is a huge Dundee fan. Speroni agreed, providing there was no repeat of the 66-yard goal Adam scored to embarrass Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois earlier this month.

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has now given permission for Adam, who has scored three goals in his last four games, to play for 45 minutes for Dundee in the game, which takes place at Selhurst Park on 26 May.

“Charlie came up to me after our Premier League game at Stoke last month,” revealed Speroni, who joined Palace from Dundee in 2004, after a successful three three-year spell at Dens Park.

“He had heard about the game and told me he was a massive Dundee fan and he had always wanted to play for them. I told him he could play as long as he promised not to score against me from the halfway line.”

Money raised from the match and other testimonial events will be given to local charities. “I want to use my testimonial year to give something back and make a difference in the lives of others,” said Speroni, whose current team play champions-elect Chelsea this weekend.