ANTOINE SIBIERSKI returns to St James' Park today expecting a warm reception from the Newcastle United fans - something he feels will not be on the cards for Titus Bramble.

Bramble's five years and 96 Premier League starts for the Magpies were riddled with mistakes, although, on many occasions, he did resemble the defender who warranted the £5m price-tag Sir Bobby Robson paid Ipswich in July 2002.

However, the Newcastle supporters became fed up with his error-prone ways and were satisfied to see him depart on a Bosman free in the summer.

Now with Wigan, along with Sibierski, who also moved for nothing after failing to agree terms, Bramble has looked impressive at the heart of a Latics defence that has kept two clean sheets from four matches.

Whether Bramble can maintain his form for the rest of the season is questionable, but Sibierski believes he has more chance of succeeding at the JJB Stadium than he did at St James'.

"I don't think Titus will have the same reception as me," said Bramble. "At Newcastle, Titus played in front of 52,000 fans and it is different here. Maybe he has got less pressure playing for Wigan than Newcastle.

"Titus looks a different player. I have told him he could play for England - he has done very well in the last few games and I am not surprised about that because I saw him at Newcastle in training and he is a quality player.

"But he was not the same during games. Now he is doing very well in games and I would not be surprised if he got in the England squad.

"He is the same guy but on the pitch he looks more confident and on the ball he looks more confident with his position. I want him to carry on in this way.

"Maybe it is the way he is being coached. Maybe he has got more confidence from the staff at Wigan than he got at Newcastle."

After scoring in his first three matches for Wigan, Sibierski has continued the from which brought eight goals in his one season at Newcastle.

And the Frenchman, who claims to have been asked to take a 60 per cent pay cut to stay in the North-East, is relishing the prospect of saying farewell to the fans that made him welcome.

"If there is one game I don't want to miss it is St James's Park," said Sibierski. "It will be fantastic to go back.

"We had a great relationship so it is going to be a delight to go back. People did not expect much of me when I signed from Manchester City. I did well and scored some goals and the fans were very happy with me. When I was on the pitch it was maybe one of the best feelings I have had in my career. I don't know why."

And Sibierski is still angry by the way contract terms, which he would have signed, were withdrawn.

"I should have signed a new contract there," said the 33-year-old. "I agreed with Glenn Roeder. The only thing was that Freddy Shepherd changed his mind when Glenn had been sacked.

"It was a lack of consideration and respect for me."