Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe says he is unsure how he will feel when he returns to Bournemouth for the first time since leaving them in August 2020.
The 45-year-old left the Cherries by mutual consent following their relegation from the Premier League.
Howe was in charge of the south coast side for more than 450 games across two spells, spanning more than a decade.
“We’ve been preparing the game as normal,” said Howe, whose side play Bournemouth on Saturday (17:30 GMT).
“The emotional side is difficult to predict how I’ll feel walking out into a stadium I know so well and so many people I know so well.
“For the moment, we are preparing the game as we would any other Premier League game.”
Bournemouth went from the lower reaches of League Two to become an established Premier League team under Howe, who guided them to three promotions in six seasons.
They spent five seasons in the top flight before being relegated in 2020.
Howe also spent almost his entire playing career with the Cherries, making over 300 appearances in two spells before joining the coaching staff.
His assistant at Newcastle, Jason Tindall, took over as Cherries boss after Howe’s departure before he was sacked in February 2021.
Striker Callum Wilson joined Newcastle from Bournemouth in September 2020 and, while he says he will be doing his best to score, added that he will not celebrate if he does so.
“I feel like they gave me an unbelievable opportunity to play and progress my career, so to celebrate in front of their fans against the team that means so much to them would be a bit disrespectful,” Wilson told the Footballer’s Football podcast.
