Steve Bruce has hinted he would have liked to work with Adam Armstrong at Newcastle United.
The Geordie striker returns to St James' Park in the colours of Southampton tomorrow and will be eager to haunt the club that let him go for just £1.8million.
With United still looking for their first victory of the campaign, the scenario adds extra spice to an already important game.
Bruce said: "How pleased I am for him that he's gone on to make it.
"He played against us when he played for Blackburn when I was at Sheffield Wednesday.
"He's done very well since he left the club, culminating in a big move to the Premier League.
"I didn't have the chance to work with the lad but he's a local lad who will desperately want to come and do well so it will be a big game for him tomorrow."
Armstrong was sold in 2018 to Rovers but Newcastle banked 40% of his £15million fee after he left Ewood Park to join the Saints.
Speaking about the decision to sell him, Bruce said: "It must’ve been a decision made at the time - ‘Is the kid ever going to be good enough to be Newcastle’s centre-forward?’
"Obviously, the previous manager thought he wasn’t quite ready.
"I’m sure it’s a huge game for him coming back to his boyhood club.
"I’ve not had the privilege to work with Adam.
"But these are the decisions managers make - we’ve seen it with Ivan Toney too. Any decision is a decision you need to look at very carefully.
"Since Adam has left Newcastle he has done very well for himself.”
