JAMES Hanson admits he was disappointed with how his Valley Parade exit came across on the ‘Matter of Heart’ documentary.

The big striker returns to the club that forged his career for the first time this weekend.

Hanson, currently on loan at Bury from Sheffield United, should expect a decent reception from the home fans in recognition for his place as City’s third-highest scorer.

And he hopes that won’t be tainted by how his departure for Bramall Lane 13 months ago was portrayed on the DVD.

Hanson said: “The club obviously wanted me to go just as much at the time. I felt I got messed around.

“At first there was talk of a new deal but then I got injured. I went and scored four in five and thought it was the perfect time to go back in but the chairman said they’d leave it to the end of the season.

“I spoke to my agent and he got the impression that clubs asking about me were hearing that I wouldn’t be offered a new contract.

“I felt very disappointed when I saw the DVD. I don’t understand because they got a good deal for me as well – everyone won.

“I could understand if I’d only been there a year and sat on my money.

“No disrespect, but I’d probably been underpaid for six of the eight years I was there anyway. It’s not like I rinsed the club for money.

“They paid next to nothing for me and got a decent fee as well, as well as all the cup runs I helped the club get through.”

Hanson missed out on facing City last season when a calf problem kept him out of the Easter Monday clash which the Championship-bound Blades won 3-0.

Injuries have continued to plague his progress since and denied him the opportunity to push his case for Chris Wilder’s high-flying team.

He was expecting to team up with Rory McArdle again at Scunthorpe but an August deadline-day move failed to materialise.

“A deal was arranged to go there on a permanent,” said Hanson.

“Scunthorpe weren’t too bothered about the hamstring. They thought I’d be back in a few weeks so that would be fine.

“I was even at Rory’s house having a cup of tea and some food with him on deadline day while waiting for the call.

“But it got to about 7pm and Sheffield United couldn’t get enough strikers in the building, so I ended up staying.

“It’s been a really frustrating season. I had three weeks to get back fit but then I redid my hamstring because I tried to rush back.

“I wasn’t fit in the end until about mid-November time. I got on the bench a few times but silly things would go against me.

“I was on the bench at QPR and the keeper got injured after two minutes, then our right back George Baldock pulled up with his hamstring just after half-time.

“We’d used two subs already and still had Billy Sharp and (Mark) Duffy on the sidelines. I’m thinking ‘I might as well put my jacket back on’. Things like that have gone against me – but I’m happy to just go out on loan and play some games now.”

Stuart McCall gave Hanson his first chance in the professional game in 2009 and the big striker will be as gutted as anyone to see him go.

But he still feels City can halt the slide and avoid dropping away.

Hanson said: “I’ve got so much time for Stuart and he’s done an amazing job there.

“But I still 100 per cent believe they will get in the play-offs.

“If you look at the injuries they’ve had, there have been big players missing like Tony McMahon and Colin Doyle.

“No disrespect to the squad but you look at the bench and it’s probably not as strong as other clubs. The resources aren’t as big – even at Bury, the budget is a lot bigger.

“But with the signings they’ve just made, and Tony and Doyler coming back, they should be able to carry on where they’ve been all season in the top six.”

Hanson, scorer of that iconic goal at Villa Park and such a key figure in the club’s biggest moments of late, is certainly up for his return this afternoon.

“If anyone knows anything about football, then it should be a good reaction – but you just don’t know.

“I’m really looking forward to playing at Valley Parade again, although I’m just focusing on going there and treating it as a normal game.

“We need to win as a team and it’s obviously encouraged us with Bradford’s form dipping.”