Nick Barmby has stated he is unfazed by the reaction of the Everton crowd on the eve of his first return to Goodison Park, 8 years after leaving them and joining their hated rivals Liverpool.

The man known as “Judas” by many Evertonians has only played against his former team away from Goodison Park and that includes scoring against them in a Merseyside derby which finished 3-1.

He told a Hull newspaper – “I’ve had it all before and you just focus on what you are doing on the pitch. It’s nothing new to me.

“At the end of the day it is up to the fans. I had four or five great years at Everton, it is a great club and I have still got some friends there.

“All in all, I had seven years on Merseyside and it is a great place to play football.

“I knew when I moved from Everton at the time the effect it would have, but I’m going back there now as a Hull City player and the focus for us and myself is on getting a good result there.

“I knew it was a talking point going to Everton’s rivals, but they got good money for me at the time and I only had a year or six months left on my contract.

“I have fond memories of my time there, but at the end of the day you can’t control what people think or do. So if the crowd are hard on me, then I can’t stop that.

“I scored for Liverpool against Everton and it didn’t go down too well on the blue half, but that is what you are paid to do.”