HUGO: I'M MY OWN BOSS

But I serve my fans in Red... I don't care about the others. Hearing my name sung is a dream says Ekitike

- BY PAUL GORST

HUGO EKITIKE insists he is not worried about a hostile reception from the away fans when Liverpool host Newcastle at Anfield on Saturday night.

Ekitike found himself embroiled in the transfer saga involving Alexander Isak’s summer move from Tyneside to Merseyside. With Liverpool courting Isak, Newcastle tried and failed to land Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, in a bid to pair him with their unsettled Swedish star.

In the end, Ekitike ended up at Anfield after Liverpool paid £79m for him, then landing Isak on deadline day for a British record £125m fee.

And the France international striker says he is more than happy he chose Liverpool over Newcastle.

It's understood Liverpool made initial contact over a deal for Ekitike as far back as January of last year.

But as a result of how the summer played, it was put to Ekitike after Wednesday's 6-0 win over Qarabag that the travelling crowd of 3,000 Geordies might reserve some hostility towards him. The striker declared himself unmoved, insisting: “I don't care.