When Alan Smith left Old Trafford for St James’ Park last summer, he swapped the most stable club in the land for the most volatile, but after another frenetic week in the turbulent history of Newcastle United, the former England player harbours few regrets. “Nobody wants boredom, do they?” he said, although some quiet stability would probably not go amiss.

Smith returns to Manchester United today for the first time since his £6 million transfer in August. In his three years at the club, the 27-year-old had mixed fortunes, winning a championship medal, being converted into a midfield player and sustaining a leg injury that Sir Alex Ferguson as “one of the worst I’ve seen”.

Despite suffering the opprobrium of Leeds United supporters for daring to join their mortal enemies, Smith’s memories are largely positive. “I had an experience at [Manchester] United you probably wouldn’t get at any other club and when the chance arises to go there, it’s difficult to turn down,” he said. “I enjoyed every minute of it there, other than the time at Anfield when I broke my leg.”

Within a febrile five months at Newcastle he has seen the club muster their best league start to a season for a decade, suffer some appalling results and dismiss Sam Allardyce, their manager. He has played up front, in midfield and been handed the captaincy. He has also had his place questioned by many supporters. “I’d rather have 52,000 fans having a go at you than having empty seats,” he said. “People might be criticising or having a go at you when you’re not playing well, but there’s no better place to be than on a football field when they’re all behind you. Would I rather have unpleasantness than boredom? Of course.”

His time at Elland Road his given Smith a thick layer of equanimity. “When I was at Leeds we were in Europe and we were also relegated,” he said. “I’ve been at both ends of the scale and for a young lad, as I was then, it keeps you in good stead.I think there are comparisons between Newcastle and Leeds because they’re both one-club cities with working-class environments and passionate support who demand 100 per cent. I wouldn’t change that for the world.”