Wayne Rooney expects Richard Keogh to play like a man with a point to prove when the defender returns to Derby County with Huddersfield tonight, but the manager has told his players they can save any reunions until after the match.
In October 2019, Derby terminated the contract of then captain Keogh for what they labelled gross misconduct following an internal disciplinary hearing.
The 34-year-old defender, capped 26 times for the Republic of Ireland, suffered a serious knee injury after he was involved in a car crash with Wales international Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett.
Lawrence and Bennett, who later admitted to drink-driving charges, were both fined the equivalent of six weeks' wages - the maximum contractual limit - by Derby but not dismissed.
Keogh moved to League One MK Dons last summer after recovering from his injury. Last month Huddersfield swooped for the centre-half.
Tonight, Keogh returns to Pride Park for the first time with the 18th-placed Terriers two points ahead of Rooney's Rams in the Championship.
"Richard Keogh and Duane Holmes [another ex-Derby man], they are two players who'll be coming back and focusing on their jobs for Huddersfield," said Rooney.
"I've said to my players, I don't want anyone speaking to them before the game. If they want to speak and catch up they can do it after the game.
"Before the game we have to focus on our jobs.
"We have to focus on ourselves and that's it. After the game they can do what they want, talk about what they want.
"As always when you're going back to a club you used to play for, you want to do well. I've had it myself playing against former clubs. I'm expecting them to be fired up for the game and to give everything for Huddersfield."
