10 Former Toon Players Who Returned To Haunt Newcastle

6. Kevin Nolan

It was probably the least enthusiastic chicken dance that Kevin Nolan had ever performed on the St. James' Park turf, but as his elbows flapped at his sides following his first-half winner, the crowd fell silent. They hadn't wanted the fan favourite to leave the club during the previous year, following his 29 goals from midfield during a two and a half year spell on Tyneside. Having blitzed Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby on Hallow's Eve in 2010 with a famous hat-trick, Nolan will forever be remembered fondly in these parts. But for 90 minutes on a cold November's afternoon in 2012, he was simply another Hammer, and he duly obliged, as he did what he did best at this ground. Slaloming home Joey O'Brien's mis-hot shot, the former Bolton Wanderers captain's effort ultimately decided the game, but the afternoon wasn't just about Nolan. It was a game of old adversaries catching up, with Newcastle boss Alan Pardew and West Ham manager Sam Allardyce both occupying the other one's former job. So often a double-act at the Toon, Andy Carroll was once again the foil for Kevin Nolan at St. James' Park - only his time it was in a Hammers shirt, while Demba Ba had scored seven goals in 12 games for the Londoners prior to his Newcastle move in 2011.