FORMER Red Devil Danny Simpson is looking forward to his long-awaited return to Old Trafford – and has warned his old side Newcastle United are not scared of anyone on their travels.
The Magpies lost their unbeaten record at Manchester City on Saturday but, despite depleted resources, gave a good account of themselves in the North West.
They return to the same city this weekend with another huge challenge on their hands against the Red Devils – but are also a team confident they can exploit any weaknesses in the armoury of the champions.
It is the Premier League’s game of the day but for Simpson, sold by Manchester United in 2009 after failing to break into Sir Alex Ferguson’s first-team plans, the game is even more important.
One of only a handful of players sold by Manchester United but still plying their trade in the top flight, it will be his first return to Old Trafford as an opposition player after injury ruled him out of the opening game of last season.
For a man with friends and family who are season ticket holders, that makes it even more special.
“This will be my first time back at Old Trafford – I’ve not played there for a long time. I’ve obviously played against Manchester United at our place, last year, which was a bit special but this is something different even from that,” he told The Journal.
“It will be a really, really big moment in my career because not a lot of players leave Manchester United and go back as a Premier League players.
“It is even more special that I will be going back as part of a Newcastle United team that is very, very good. We will not be scared of going there. It is a big moment, it will be nice for me to go back to Old Trafford but Newcastle and getting the three points will be my priority.
“I know Is till have a lot of learning to do and I want to continue to do that as a Newcastle United player.”
Despite his former affiliations, half of Simpson’s family belong in the blue half of Manchester.
With the North West city’s two sides battling for top-flight supremacy, he knows the same family who were backing his opponents on Saturday will be his most fierce supporters this weekend.
