BASINGSTOKE Town legend Sergio Torres insists that he will not celebrate if he scores when he returns with Whitehawk on Saturday.

The Argentine made his breakthrough in England with Basingstoke, scoring 10 goals in 69 appearances between February 2004 and August 2005, before leaving to join the professional ranks with Wycombe Wanderers.

He went on to play for Peterborough United and Crawley Town before signing for Town’s Vanarama Conference South rivals Whitehawk in the summer.

Torres sat out Town’s 1-0 league win over his new side last month, but the 31-year-old is fit for Saturday’s FA Trophy tie at The Soccer AM Stadium.

Torres cannot wait to return to Basingstoke – but he has vowed that he will not celebrate if he scores, as a mark of respect towards his former club and their fans.

“I haven’t scored yet this season so it would be good to score a goal, but if I do, I won’t celebrate,” he said.

“For a footballer, scoring a goal is the best feeling, but if that happens on Saturday I won’t go crazy like I normally do, out of respect for the club who supported me and helped me to develop as a player.

“I am really looking forward to Saturday’s game. I was gutted to miss the last game, because Basingstoke means a lot to me.

“Playing there was a great experience for me and I had a great time. I made many good friends and the fans were brilliant with me.

“I am so glad that Jason Bristow is doing so well as a manager, because he is a great person and deserves every success. Watching the last game, I thought Basingstoke played some great football and I was very impressed with their midfield.”

Town manager Bristow is sure that his former team-mate will get a good reception on his return. 

Bristow played alongside the midfielder for Town 10 years ago and believes that he will be welcomed back to The Soccer AM Stadium with open arms.

“I am sure that Sergio will get a good reception,” Bristow said. “He is fondly remembered by people here and a real gentleman, both on and off the pitch.

“It was good to see Sergio last month and I’m sure many other people were happy to see him as well. I would like to see him play, even though he is one of the Whitehawk players who could cause us problems.”

Saturday’s third qualifying round tie will be a first in this season’s FA Trophy for both Town and Whitehawk – and Bristow is hoping to lead his side on a good run in the competition.

“The FA Trophy is a chance for clubs at our level to go a long way in a competition and get national recognition,” the Basingstoke manager said. “It’s a competition we have not done too well in over the years, but we want to put that right and go on a real run.”

Town go into the game out of form, having lost their last three and failed to win any of their last seven games inside 90 minutes, while Whitehawk are unbeaten in five.

“It is going to be very tough,” Bristow added. “They are in form at the moment and when we played them before we saw that they were a really good side, quite possibly the best we have played.

“We have not been getting the results we want, but in spells, we have been playing some excellent stuff and we must not lose sight of that.”

Simon Dunn could return after injury, but Liam Enver-Marum, Lloyd Macklin and Sam Argent are all likely to miss out.

Town are also in action on Tuesday, when bottom-of-the-table Weston-super-Mare make the journey to The Soccer AM Stadium (kick-off 7.45pm).