Saturday's trip to Hull will see City striker Jon Parkin return to his former club for the first time since his summer transfer.

Parkin travels back to the KC Stadium to meet up with a lot of old friends, but also other people not so high up on his Christmas Card list.

"It will be nice to go back there and see some of the old lads.

"I've got a lot of good friends up in Hull and it'll be nice to go up and see them but hopefully they'll be disappointed come 5 o'clock."

Former Port Vale manager Brian Horton is now the Tigers' number two and the Beast is looking forward to meeting up with his old Macclesfield boss.

"He's a nice fella is Brian so I'll go there and say hello and have a chat with him.

"He first called me the "Beast" in an interview and it stuck from there really."

The good times Parkin experienced at Hull firmly ended though when he was farmed out on loan to the Potters last season, with manager Phil Brown not sending him with the most glowing reference.

"Well we got on quite well at first but when he sent me here he said some derogatory things about me on the radio and we never really spoke much after that.

"It was good up until I came here and then I was called back which was obviously disappointing but those things happen in football.

"For some reason they called me back and decided not to play me but I think it was to save face more than anything else.

"Hull were struggling to stop in the league and one of their players is scoring goals at another Championship club who were a point outside the play-offs so I think that was why.

"I said to him if you want me to play I'll play, but I'll play for the rest of the team and not for you.

"At that time I'd made my mind up I wanted to leave as we weren't really on speaking terms and we didn't really have much to do with each other."

"I wouldn't say I've got anything to prove but it's always nice to go back to an old club and do well."

One of the reason's Parkin would feel so disappointed to be called back at that time is down to the great partnership he was starting to forge with Ricardo Fuller.

"I think last time I was here me and Ric scored six goals in three games which you can't really complain about.

"I think I've scored when Mama's been on the pitch as well so which any one of them I play with this season I think we can do well.

"They're just a little bit quicker than me but hopefully we can start complimenting each other," Jon smiled.

Another reason would be the support he received from the City faithful, which has continued this season despite Parkin being named as a substitute for all of the league games.

He fully recognises this, however, and finds it great to hear the chants from the sidelines as he warms up.

"It's obviously a massive bonus if the fans appreciate what you're doing and it gives you a lift and makes you feel good.

"I'm obviously very disappointed not to be starting, as any footballer would be, so it's up to me to work hard and get myself back in the team.

"There's nothing more I can do than score the goals and hopefully I can keep doing that and give the gaffer a headache which will make him not able to leave me out.

"All I can say is start me and see how we go. The more minutes I play the fitter and stronger I'm going to get so hopefully I'll be able to get some under my belt."

A determined Parkin has scored two goals from the bench so far this campaign and may not feel he has anything to prove, but when asked if there would be anything better than scoring up at the KC Stadium on Saturday, he replies:

"Yeah, scoring a hat-trick I think! That'd be the perfect scenario for me but getting the three points is the main thing."