Andy Thorn takes his Coventry City side to Derby County on Saturday.
The Rams are a side managed by an old international team mate and one Thorn used to room with when on international duty as well as an adversary on the pitch in domestic games.
Thorn was in a jocular mood, joking that Nigel Clough won't recognise him now.
He said to the CT: “I know Nigel and he’ll be working hard to get his players right. I roomed with him with the England Under-21s and have played against him loads of times, so I have got the utmost respect for him and am looking forward to seeing him on Saturday."
“I haven’t spoken to him for ages. In fact that last time I spoke to him was about six stone ago so he might not recognise me! We know what to expect from them and we have got to be ready for that and stamp our authority on the game as well.
"I am sure it will be frantic early doors and then when it opens up I am sure we can get on it and start zipping it around, and if we do that I am sure we will be OK, but it will be a tough game. They like to play up so it should also be an entertaining game.”