CHESTER’S Paul Linwood plans to make a winning return to the Racecourse on Sunday.

The City defender played nine games on loan for Wrexham in 2005 when he was on the books of Tranmere Rovers.

Having left Prenton Park for Chester last summer, he is expecting a hostile reception from the Wrexham fans this weekend – although the 23-year-old will enjoy catching up with some of his former Dragons team-mates after the match.

“All of Wrexham’s derbies seem very bitter,” said Linwood. “But I am looking forward to going back and seeing lads like Lee McEvilly, who was there when I went to Wrexham on loan.

“It won’t be difficult for me – you can’t let it affect you like that.”

Linwood played just eight minutes in his first visit to the Racecourse, coming on as a substitute for Tranmere when they beat Wrexham 5-1 in January, 2005.

After falling out of favour with then-Rovers boss Brian Little last season, Linwood was loaned to Wrexham for three months before returning to Prenton Park.

After joining Chester, one of his first competitive games for the club was a home derby against the Dragons on August 20 last year.

Reduced to 10 men early on, City went on to lose 2-1 – and Linwood was denied a late equaliser when Danny Williams cleared the defender’s goal-bound effort off the line.

“That wasn’t a great game with us losing a man so early on,” said Linwood. “It was harder to take than other defeats because it is around you all week with media and fans – the disappointment is a lot bigger.

“But three points on Sunday would be really good for us, and if Wrexham don’t get them they are in trouble so it should be a good game.”

Dragons boss Brian Carey has demanded his players produce a derby performance the Racecourse faithful can be proud of on Sunday.

The Wrexham manager says the weekend’s meeting with Chester is the ideal time to get his first win as boss and kick-start the Dragons’ quest to stay in the Football League.

“The players are going to be right up for it,” he said. “There is no worry there. The players will just get ready for it and hopefully by the end of the week they will be prepared for it.

“It’s a local derby and there is a lot of pride at stake and I know the players will be at it.

“It is definitely an opportunity for everyone to show exactly how much the club means to everybody here – the fans and the players.

“But is up to the players themselves now to go and do that and put a show on for the supporters, to give them something to shout about. We need a good result to get the club up and running again.

“We mentioned it to the players, particularly the ones who aren’t from the area, what this game will be like,” added the Irishman, who played 326 games for Wrexham as a centre-half.

“We spoke to everyone. The players are the same as usual. It is business as usual. But they will be up for it, I guarantee that.

“It is up to us now to start playing well and the goals will come. It has been a problem all season, but we are looking to rectify that.”

Meanwhile, Carey said he had not ruled out bringing in more players after midfielder Jeff Whitley was linked with a return to the club.

“We will just wait and see – as I’ve said all along it is just a matter of seeing if the right player comes along at the right the time, and if they fit the bill at the right price we’ll take them on,” Carey added.

“You never know, I am just waiting on phone calls. Any good player that comes along we will be interested.”