Paul Lambert has insisted that he is "not concerned" about the reception he might receive when he returns to Colchester United tomorrow.

The former U's boss goes back to his former club this weekend for the first time since controversially quitting for Coca-Cola League One rivals Norwich City, in August.

Lambert brings his high-flying Canaries side to the Weston Homes Community Stadium to take on ex-club Colchester, who are also vying for promotion to the Coca-Cola Championship this season.

Some U's fans are still angry at the manner of the Scot's departure, along with his assistants Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa, while Colchester are still seeking compensation from the Canaries over the matter.

But while he admitted he may not be the most popular man in the town following his exit from the U's, Lambert said he is purely focused on tomorrow's game.

Lambert said: “Am I concerned about the reception tomorrow? No.

“I know what it's like and I know what to expect.

“I'm not going to be the most well-liked man in Colchester, that's for sure.

“But the game is more important and we will go to try and win it.”

Lambert led former club Colchester to a memorable 7-1 win against the Canaries at Carrow Road on the opening day of the season, shortly before he quit to take over at Norwich.

“I never think about that game,” said Lambert,who declined to talk about Colchester chairman Robbie Cowling's reaction to him leaving the club in August.

“We had a chance to win a football match which we did and then I got a chance to come here.

“What has happened on the first day has happened.

“The Colchester lads were brilliant and I thoroughly enjoyed working with them.

“I won't hear a bad word against them.

“Some like you and some don't but that's the nature of the game.

“They play differently under their manager than ourselves but we know a good bit about them.

“It will be a different team tomorrow to the one that played on the opening day.

“The players are the ones that have turned it around - this is my club now and we're playing terrifically well.”

Lambert added that he enjoyed working with the U's players during his time at the club.

He said: “The majority of lads we brought in were great, not just as footballers but as people.

“It was important that they were good characters and they were.

“They gave me everything and I couldn't ask for anymore, I really couldn't.

“It would be different if you worked there and lost them but that was never, ever the case.

“But in football you get opportunities and the support and the fan base that this club has drives it on - it's absolutely fantastic."

For a full preview of Colchester United's crunch game with Norwich City, see today's Gazette.