Mark Hughes has urged Aston Villa fans to welcome Gareth Barry rather than jeer their former captain when he returns to Villa Park.

Barry infuriated Villa fans after moving to Eastlands for £12 million in the offseason after claiming that he would only move to another club that was playing in the Champions League.

Man City are not in any European competition this season, but Barry is adamant that he is now locked in to  being part of City's vision for long-term success.

Although Hughes is sure that Barry will get the boos at Villa Park, he asked for the supporters to thank the England regular being a loyal servant of the club for a decade.

"I hope Gareth doesn't get a bad reception," said Hughes, according to The Daily Mirror. "The service he gave to Aston Villa was exemplary.

"Maybe, instead of trying to take issue with players, fans should thank them for what they did for the club while they were there and acknowledge that more readily.

"Unfortunately that very rarely happens these days. As a player you want good relations with the clubs you played for.

"It's always preferable to go back to an old club and have people regard you with affection and respect.

"People should accept what Gareth did in terms of his career there. But unfortunately sometimes the small minority have the loudest voices.

"On reflection I think people will understand now why Gareth wanted to make the move here.

"A year before he said he wanted to play in the Champions League. We didn't have that to offer but we had other things to show him this was the right place for him.

"Villa have real hopes themselves of a top-four finish and went close last year, but I think people can see we may well be in a position to challenge as well.

"From Gareth's point of view I think he was happy with the decision he made, but it wasn't an easy decision.

"We gave him an idea of the hopes, we've been able to keep the promises we made, for the most part.

"When you're trying to bring a player to a club, all managers talk about their ambitions for the future. But we'd like to think we can fulfil those ambitions."

Hughes also shot down suggestions that Barry joined Man City purely for the many.

"People make their own decisions on why players have come here," said Hughes.

"Whenever a player moves there's always a financial side involved, but that's not why players are coming here.

"They're coming here because they can see what we're trying to do."

Former City captain Richard Dunne will also be facing his old club for the first time since departing from Eastlands.

The Irish defender claims that he was driven out of the club by Hughes and was reluctant to leave. The City boss has rubbished the claim, saying that the decision to leave was entirely Dunne's.

"If Richard wanted to stay he could have stayed by not signing for Villa," said Hughes.

"Nobody put the pen in his hand. He gave us great service through some difficult times with the club.

"We could have been selfish and kept him here. At the moment we're in a position where we can't afford to lose another centre-half to injury.

"I could have protected myself by making sure he stayed, but I couldn't guarantee him first-team football.

"Out of deference to him and for what he did for the club, I thought it was only fair that we allowed him to speak to Villa and I hope that's remembered."