Tomorrow Steve Staunton reappears for Aston Villa in front of their home fans for the first time since he walked out on them - unsure of the reaction he is going to get.
The 31-year-old defender waved goodbye to Villa Park when he left the club 18 months ago on a Bosman free transfer, re-tracing his steps to Merseyside where his career as a professional began.
But in one of those delicious twists of irony that seems to litter football, Staunton will run out in front of a full house against Liverpool after having agreed to sign up once more for the Birmingham club in December following an 18month absence.
Last season, it seemed that Villa's paying public had the last laugh when Staunton went for an early bath on his only re-appearance for Gerard Houllier's side.
Tomorrow, however, he will be wearing claret and blue. After almost six weeks back in England's second city, he still cannot gauge whether that episode has been forgiven or forgotten.
"I don't think you can say the reception was mixed when I came back," he said, "they really vented their anger at me. They said it the way they saw it.
"But I gave them seven good years and I've got another couple more in me. I would like to think that they are wise and big enough to let my football do the talking.
"I honestly don't know what reaction I'll get. I hope I can show I can still play, then all that will be forgotten about."
Staunton's was hardly the big name Villa's fans have craved. The signing of £9.5 million Colombian international striker Juan Pablo Angel appeared to have set some minds at rest. However, the collapse of that deal makes Villa Park one of the places to be at the weekend.
The home faithful are calling for club chairman Doug Ellis to resign. They feel that the club has stood still since the summer and see the repeated purchase of thirtysomethings as retrograde steps.
Staunton (32 next week) joins Luc Nilis (33) and David Ginola (34 in a fortnight) as Gregory's major signings since the close season. The Irish international rebuffs the suggestion that oldies are not golden. In fact, quite the opposite.
"Look at West Ham. They've got a 38-year-old in Stuart Pearce and a 36-year-old in Nigel Winterburn. They're both playing and I haven't heard too many of their fans complaining.
"Denis Irwin is 34 and Lee Dixon is 36. This thing people have about age is a load of codswallop.
"If you are fit enough you can play whether you are 17 or 37, it doesn't make any difference.
"And the way I feel, I want to play on and get another contract at Villa. I want to finish my career here. That's my aim."
