Jacob Butterfield is ready for some banter with his old Middlesbrough mates this week.
But the midfielder says he’ll be fully focused on helping Huddersfield Town clinch what would be a third straight Championship victory on Saturday.
It’s a first return to the Riverside Stadium for Butterfield, who had 12 months on Teesside.
He joined Town as fellow midfielder Adam Clayton went in the opposite direction back in August.
Clayton is back from suspension for the meeting with Town, for whom he played 94 times and scored 12 goals.
Former Barnsley and Norwich City played Butterfield has featured 25 times for Town, scoring four goals.
One of his games was the 2-1 home defeat by Middlesbrough in September, Chris Powell’s first game at the Town helm.
Boro are fourth, while Town are 15th after home wins over Bolton Wanderers and Watford.
“I am sure there will be some text messages going backwards and forwards,” smiled Butterfield.
“There might be an extra bit of spice for the fans, but there is no sentiment in football.
“I am at Huddersfield now and Middlesbrough are a former club.
“They are having a good season and doing well but so were Watford, and we beat them.
“There’s no reason why we can’t go up to the Riverside and win.”
