Nathaniel Knight-Percival has played down his Valley Parade return with Carlisle United, with the experienced former Bradford City centre-back saying facing former sides is just part of the game.

Knight-Percival joined the Blues in July after he had ended his three-year spell with Bradford. The 32-year-old, who will today (3pm kick-off) come up against the Bantams for whom he made more than 100 appearances, for the first time since his summer departure, accepts it will be a little strange to face the Yorkshire side.

But he told the News & Star: “It’s part of football.

"You are going to move clubs at some point in your career and then you are going to have to go up against old teams, so it’s just part of the game.”

A bumper crowd is expected for the League Two clash as United face Gary Bowyer’s ninth-placed team who currently get the league’s highest crowds, averaging an attendance of more than 14,000 so far this season.

“I think the lads will be looking forward to playing there,” Knight-Percival said.

“It’s well-known that they have got a really good fan base there, and there probably is going to be a lot of people there.

"So, it will be great for us to go out there and show what we can do in front of everyone.”

The 17th-placed Cumbrians, who could hand a 500th career appearance to midfielder Mike Jones, will hope to earn a positive result as they look to continue to climb the table, having beaten bottom side Stevenage 3-2 last weekend and been held to a goalless draw by 10-man Forest Green on Tuesday night.

“We have played quite well away from home, so we want to try and keep that going,” Knight-Percival said.

“But, regardless of where we play, we want to be picking up results. We want to start winning our home games, as well.”

Former England Under-21s international James Vaughan and ex-Blackburn man Adam Henley are two of the star names at Bradford who finished bottom of League One last season.

“They have a strong team,” Knight-Percival admitted. “I think they probably have some more recognisable names, but we are not too worried with their players and their strengths.

"We are just going to be trying to use our strengths and then, hopefully, win the game.”

And with a more physical battle than the one provided by Forest Green expected, Knight-Percival is looking ahead to the battle.

He said: “As defenders, that’s what we like, getting stuck in.

"You are going to have different games each week in this league. Sometimes, it’s going to be a physical battle and, sometimes, it’s going to be more mentally tiring.

"It’s just about trying to win every game.”