Curtis Davies believes that West Bromwich Albion supporters should thank him rather than boo him tomorrow as he makes his first return to The Hawthorns since leaving for Aston Villa in a move that yielded his old club millions more than some former team-mates' departures.

The Villa defender left West Brom 13 months ago amid much acrimony as fans turned on the captain for his perceived disloyalty in asking for a transfer. But, as he braces himself for the kind of raucous reception that he claims is likely only to sharpen his motivation, Davies emphasised that he had given Albion value for money after signing from Luton Town for £3million in 2005.

While Kevin Phillips and Zoltan Gera left the club on Bosman free transfers this summer, West Brom earned an initial £8.5million when Davies's loan was converted to a permanent deal. But the former England Under-21 centre back accepts that he will still be the pantomime villain in tomorrow's Midlands derby.

“Yes, I will get stick,” he said. “It doesn't really faze me and, if anything, I buzz off it. I felt that I gave good service in the two years I was there. I wasn't one of those who went there, took my money and left them high and dry by leaving on a Bosman.

“There were other people trying to leave Albion when I went, but it didn't work out for them. So, because I was the last one to leave on transfer deadline day, it looked a bit as if I deserted them. But that's not my problem any more. I'm a Villa player now looking forward to my Villa career.”