SAM ALLARDYCE last night admitted he would have preferred to have gone back to Bolton as Newcastle United manager later in the new season - rather than the opening day visit he was handed yesterday.

When the fixture list was published, Newcastle were given a trip to the Reebok Stadium on August 11 which will provide both manager and team with a difficult start to the Premiership campaign.

The 52-year-old spent seven-and-half years at Bolton before leaving his post towards the end of last season, later accepting an offer to succeed Glenn Roeder at St James' Park.

But Allardyce is relishing the opportunity to go head to head with his former assistant Sammy Lee, now the Bolton boss, so early in his Newcastle reign.

"I would have liked it to have been a bit later on," he said. "Going back there on the first day of the season, it's always going to be an exciting time.

"It's going to add some spice to it at the Bolton end and it will give everybody there a lift I'm sure. Not many Newcastle teams in the past have done that well there.

"Of course, everybody there I know, I had nearly eight great years there and I'm sure Sammy will try to play it down a bit, but I think deep down inside they will be all guns blazing to make sure I have a miserable afternoon."