Newcastle v Norwich: Chris Hughton puts sentiment to one side in search of three points

The former Magpies manager takes the Canaries to St James' Park this weekend

Chris Hughton cuts a lonely figure on the touchline during Norwich City's 7-0 defeat at Manchester City last weekend (GETTY IMAGES)

Norwich manager Chris Hughton admits there can be little place for sentiment as he looks to leave former club Newcastle with all three points safely back on the away team bus.

Hughton guided the Magpies to the 2010 Championship title when he was appointed full-time boss following a caretaker spell, only to be dismissed by owner Mike Ashley in the December despite the team sitting in mid-table and having won at Arsenal.

Following his somewhat harsh exit from St James' Park, the 54-year-old went on to have a succsesful spell at Birmingham, making the play-offs and competing in the Europa League, before taking charge at Carrow Road, eventually guiding the Canaries to safety in the top flight once again.

Hughton received a warm reception from the Toon Army on his return to the north-east last season, where Norwich lost 1-0, but maintains all that will be on his mind this weekend will be securing a positive result for his current employers.

"As a returning manager, it is always very difficult," said Hughton, whose side beat West Ham before the international break to move out of the bottom three.

"Yes, I was very appreciative of the response I got (last season), but you are there to ultimately take your team to try to get a result - that means more than anything

"If you come away from there bitterly disappointed because you have not won or played particularly well, then it does not make it a good game.

"Last season I was not disappointed with the performance, we just did not get the result."

Asked if he would be happy to be on the end of some boos at full-time if it meant Norwich had won, Hughton quipped: "I would be happy to walk away with the points, yes."

The Norwich manager continued: "For me it was probably a bigger deal last season to everybody else.

"I enjoyed going back last season, apart from the result, which always affects how you feel because you can only really enjoy it if you get the result or close to the performance you want.

"I am certainly not bitter, and I will look forward to go there again.

"I have some very fond memories and a lot of friends still there.

"But when I left there always wanting to look forward. Now, I am Norwich manager and am enjoying it."

Hughton feels the pressure is just as intense at any Premier League side - with the Norwich board expecting results on the pitch to match the £20million-plus summer investment in new players.

"It (Newcastle) is no more difficult than any other manager's job - when you win games it is exciting and you get the support, when you lose, they are difficult periods, but that is true at every club irrespective of whether you are top or bottom of the league," said Hughton, who will be without club-record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel again on Saturday because of a toe injury.

"For me, it's not a bigger job than Norwich. What is different perhaps is (bigger) are the expectations with what they have had in the past and a fanatical 50,000 support.

"Newcastle generally feel they should be a Champions League or a top-six side."

Hughton will take charge of his 50th Norwich match since succeeding Paul Lambert.

Despite having lost six of the first 11 Premier League outings this season - including a 7-0 humilation at Manchester City - Hughton feels he has seen enough in some of the performances to remain positive of avoiding a season-long scrap for survival.

He said: "At Arsenal we ran them very close and at Stoke we won, so although it has been sporadic we have shown we can on our good days perform away from home.

"So we can't go to Newcastle and not have a belief we can get something."

PA