Nigel Pearson's focus is solely on Leicester City – Craig Shakespeare
Assistant manager Craig Shakespeare said the fact the Pearson used to be a coach and spent a spell as a caretaker manager at Newcastle will not distract him from the task of masterminding a City victory.
Pearson joined United as assistant manager in October 2006 and, when Glenn Roeder resigned as boss the following May, he took temporary charge of the team.
He remained as coach when Sam Allardyce took over but was again asked to step up when Allardyce was sacked, only to leave the club in mysterious circumstances shortly after Kevin Keegan was given the reins for a second time in January last year.
However, the fact he is walking back through the gates at St James' Park will not even register with Pearson, said Shakespeare.
"He will treat it the same as any other game, knowing him," said Shakespeare.
"It will be three points that will concern him and I don't think there will be any hidden agendas.
"We have been back to other clubs before and I have seen him. He is very focused on the job in hand and it will be three points, regardless of the team we face.
"You want to make sure the players are in the right frame of mind and they notice if you change the preparation and do things differently. The preparation will be right, as it is for all games.
"He will concentrate on us and the focus will be getting three points."
Shakespeare said City would be going to St James' without fear after their impressive start to the season.
City are unbeaten in the league and proved by taking points at promotion hopefuls Sheffield United and Ipswich Town that they are more than a match for any side in the division. "I think it is an exciting one," Shakespeare said.
"Everyone associates Newcastle with their passionate supporters. They have a lovely stadium with some good players, so it is one you look forward to, for both players and staff.
"We are going there with no fear. They are playing quite well at the moment and at home they have got the place going a bit.
"If we won, it would give everyone a lift. It would mean three points but, other than that, it is a confidence thing because they are one of the favourites and as players you want to pit your wits against the best.
"It will be a difficult encounter but one that we can relish.
"We have a good set of players who want to do well this season. By going to Newcastle, with where they are, their passionate supporters and live on Sky, they will be up for the game.
"We have told the lads in training that we are going there to win. We are not going there for anything less. Every game this season we will be trying to win.
"They are a passionate crowd but, if we keep the ball well, pass it and ask them questions defensively, we can keep them quiet.
"We give our players the confidence to go out and play and we want to give a good account of ourselves, and by that I mean taking the game to them.
"We are on a level playing field on the night and there aren't too many points between us. The Sheffield United game showed we can cope at this level and we have players with good experience. We have more strength in depth now than we ever had and we go there with no fears.
"We have just gone out of the cup and we are disappointed but you look to the next game. Well, if ever there was a game that you have to be up for, this is it – live on Sky. It is going to be good."
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