Saturday 23 May 2015 15:23, UK
Kevin Nolan has already lost once on the Premier League stage this week, and would rather not make it two on Sunday even if it causes pain for a former team.
The West Ham captain joined team-mates Joey O’Brien and James Collins at the O2 Arena in London on Thursday, on the final night of the Premier League Darts season, to take on rugby legend Mike Tindall in an exhibition darts match.
The Hammers trio were soundly defeated by Tindall's impressive performance on the oche, but Nolan is determined he won't be beaten on the football pitch when he returns to the North East to take on Newcastle on Sunday.
The 32-year-old spent two-and-a-half seasons at Newcastle and was part of the team that was relegated from the Premier League under Alan Shearer in 2009.
A draw or defeat on Sunday could see John Carver's side go down if Hull beat Manchester United, but Nolan is adamant he will be trying to win the match, even though it will be "strange" to be part of the occasion.
“It will be emotional going back up there again," he told Sky Sports at the O2 Arena.
"I have such a good rapport with all the fans. It’s going to be a bit of a strange one. We have got to do it properly and try and go for the win because we want to finish as high as possible.
“But it’s such a shame, seeing it from the outside, seeing where they are again after what happened not so long ago. It just shows how easy it is and how tough this league is that you can never ever rest on your laurels and you have to keep plugging away.
"I am hoping for the best for them, I must admit, for all of the great friends and family I have got up there. My little boy’s a Geordie, so I am hoping that’s going to be OK, but we’ve just got to go there and be as professional as possible."
Nolan signed for West Ham in 2011 when they had just been relegated to the Championship themselves and says he is proud to have helped the team secure their Premier League status in the past few seasons.
The team has lost seven of its last 11 Premier League games, but victory on Sunday could see them secure a top-half finish once again.
"We have had such a fantastic three years back in the Premier League," he added.
"To not be in and around the relegation scrap, it’s been a long time.
"First year we bounced right back up, finished 10th, 12th last year and we’ve got an opportunity to finish 10th again.
"That’s three solid seasons which have had their ups and downs, but overall since I have come to the club and Sam [Allardyce] has come to the club, we have a lot to be proud of.”
Nolan was speaking on stage following an exhibition darts match organised by shirt sponsors Betway ahead of Gary Anderson's victory in the Premier League Darts final.
The West Ham players were treated to walk-on-girls, top darts referee Russ Bray and Sky Sports cameras capturing their every move.
You can enjoy the match for yourselves by watching the video below.
