Blackburn Rovers striker Andi Weimann said he is looking forward to playing in front of Bristol City fans when he meets his former side this weekend in the Championship.
Weimann officially left the Robins this summer after six years with the club where he made more than 200 appearances and scored 51 goals.
He joined West Bromwich Albion on loan in January and was not eligible to play against his parent side when the two teams met in March.
“I’ve always had a good relationship with the [Bristol City] fans. When I left I got nothing but nice messages from the fans, online or in person,” Weimann told BBC Radio Bristol.
“I’m really looking forward to playing against Bristol City again and seeing the fans and hopefully getting a clap and then I’ll give them a clap back.”
He has scored three goals for Blackburn in all competitions as they have made an unbeaten start to the 2024-25 Championship campaign.
Among them was a sensational volley in their 1-1 draw with Burnley on 31 August which Weimann said is “up there” with his best ever.
“I couldn’t hit it any nicer. It was one of them when you hit and you know straight away it’s going in,” he added.
“What made it even more special is I didn’t know before the game how big that derby is between Blackburn and Burnley.”
Yet Weimann said he ‘did not think’ he would celebrate if he scored against Bristol City on Saturday.
‘The squad has more confidence’
The 33-year-old moved to Ewood Park, after playing for Austria in the Euro 2024 tournament, in part due to his relationship with manager John Eustace.
The two briefly played together at Watford in 2011 when Weimann was there on loan at the start of his career.
“I don’t know if that makes me old or that makes him [Eustace] young, I’m not sure,” Weimann said.
“We asked if I could join in training to stay fit with the possibility of there also being a contract on the table if it worked for both of us.”
Blackburn finished 19th last season and Weimann was one of a number of players brought in this summer.
“When I came in it was quite a small squad, we signed about 10 players, including me, in the off-season so the squad’s looking a bit healthier now and the start’s given us a bit more confidence,” he said.
“I think we’re hoping to look further up the table rather than fighting relegation again.”