Neil Danns is determined to get Wanderers back on track – even if it means upsetting the friends he made at Huddersfield last season.
The Liverpudlian midfielder saw his career take an upward turn with the Terriers in the second half of last season on loan from Leicester and admits his time in West Yorkshire was enjoyable.
But he is having just as much fun with the Whites in his current spell and after being on the losing side when Huddersfield last made the short trip to the Reebok in April, he hopes the tables will be turned tonight.
Danns said: “I enjoyed it there. I played every game I was there until the end of the season when I got a bit of an injury on my toe.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the club.
“The chairman there was brilliant with me and the fans were as well.
“I made some good friends and I came away with nothing but good things to say about the club.
“But Huddersfield was last year – this is about now for me and my full focus is with Bolton.
“It is about getting the three points.”
The Terriers head across the Pennines looking to end a barren run on Bolton territory that has seen them fail to register a win in 12 visits stretching back 45 years – their most recent defeat coming in April when Chris Eagles scored the only goal.
But they have won back-to-back Championship games, including an impressive 2-1 victory over then league leaders Burnley at the weekend.
Mark Robins’ side currently sit four points and four places better off than Wanderers but Danns is confident his new team can put one over his old one.
He added: “Huddersfield will be another difficult game.
“I am aware of some of the threats they hold after my time there last season.
“They have some real key players that can cause any team problems on their day.
“I will be giving my knowledge to the gaffer of what I can help him with in those terms.”
Tonight’s clash is the first of six matches in a busy December for Wanderers with 18 points at stake before the new year.
And Danns is keen to make the final month of his Reebok loan spell as profitable as possible.
The 31-year-old said: “Every single year, Christmas is a busy period where you need the whole squad and everyone ready to step in when called upon.
“It will be no different this year.
“It is a real testing time and can make or break your season.
“But it is a time every footballer relishes because the games come thick and fast.
“We will be looking to get as many points on the board as we can.”