Nicky Adams says he is looking forward to a reunion with Carlisle United and their fans tomorrow - even though he wants to give them a day to forget.

Bury winger Adams will line up against John Sheridan's side tomorrow in the 31-year-old's first encounter with United since his two-season spell at Brunton Park came to an end in the summer.

Adams is anticipating a good occasion at Gigg Lane with a strong travelling Cumbrian support expected.

"I've got so much respect for the [Carlisle] fans - they were unbelievable to me," Adams told the News & Star .

"When I was up there they were fantastic and so was the amount of messages I got when I said I was leaving.

"Obviously there were a few 'good riddances', but that's football. The majority were superb.

"Carlisle's a big club - we know they're going to come in their numbers and will sing their hearts out like they normally do.

"Hopefully they'll give me a good reception. If they give me a bit of stick I'll smile and have a little laugh back with them. Nothing's personal - they want their team to win. But it will be nice to see them all."

Bury have two other ex-United connections in defender Tom Miller and sporting director Lee Dykes, while Carlisle's Hallam Hope and Kelvin Etuhu will face their former club.

Adams says that while he is excited to take on the Cumbrians, he will keep his emotions in check.

"When I played one of my old clubs before, I got sent off, but I'm older and more experienced now and that won't be happening this time, touch wood," he said.

"I also scored against Bury once before and didn't handle it very well. When you're younger you can get caught up in things. Whatever happens, I'm there to do a job for my team, but I've got a lot of respect for Carlisle.

"Both sides will want to win, and after it we'll all hug, have a little kiss and they'll probably give me a bit of grief."

United, currently 11th, are level on points with the seventh-placed Shakers, who have yet to lose at home in League Two.

Adams believes his old club will set Ryan Lowe's side a serious test.

"We were talking about it the other day and I said what a tough game it will be," he said.

"Keith [Curle] recruited some good players and the nucleus of them are still there. One thing you could say is that Carlisle haven't really got a big squad but their starting XI, on their day, is as good as any in the league.

"John Sheridan likes to play football so it's got all the makings of a really good football match."

Adams, who has played every game so far this season after returning from a cruciate knee ligament injury suffered last November, says he took fond memories from his spell in Cumbria, especially the 2016/17 play-off season.

"Every week I used to enjoy going out there and playing," he said. "The atmosphere was great and the one regret is that we went so close. I still think about that Exeter play-off game, what would have happened if we'd gone to extra-time..."

Adams reiterated that he left in the summer at a time when there was uncertainty over the managerial position and, though a deal was on the table, he could not be certain he would have been in a future manager's plans, at a time Lowe and Bury had made their interest known.

"In hindsight, I think John Sheridan would have played me, but I've got a lot of respect for the manager here and when someone wants and believes in you, and you give them your word, it's not something I could go back on," he said.

Adams says he remains in touch with many of his old colleagues, and added: "I speak to Mike Jones nearly every day - him and Devs [Jamie Devitt] try and give me grief but I've got them both on toast," he said. "Gary Liddle is trying to give me a bit of stick too but he's another that can't do it.

"I'll have a bit of Red Bull before the game and they'll be dreading seeing me."