Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton says there will be no sentiment when he faces his former club Manchester City at St James' Park on Boxing Day.The 28-year-old joined the Magpies for £5.8m in June 2007, having made 153 appearances for City following his debut in April 2003.
"It's a game I look forward to but it's only three points at stake," Barton told BBC Newcastle.
"It's important that we get the right result for Newcastle United."
Barton continued: "Me and Shaun Wright-Phillips were room-mates for a long, long time because we both came through at the same time.
"Even though he's a little bit older than me we were the youngest players in the squad, and there are a number of other players who remain, not many, but there are a number.
"But it's not as if I'm going to get all tear-jerky and emotional because it's not my way, but I'm looking forward to the game and I'm looking forward to getting another good result."
They're loyal fans and they deserve exciting times, and the way the dynamic has changed at the football club, these are exciting times.
Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton on the Manchester City fans
City's rise from Premier League battlers to title challengers started with the arrival of the Abu Dhabi United Group in September 2008, who have since bankrolled a string of big money signings such as Carlos Tevez, Yaya Toure and David Silva.
"The only thing that hasn't changed [since Barton's departure] is the fan base, which is and has been for a long time very good, even when they were in the first and second division before getting back into the Premier League," Barton added.
"They're loyal fans and they deserve exciting times, and the amount of money they're spending and the way they dynamic has changed at the football club, these are exciting times."
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport