IAN Saunders would love to have Warren Bentley back at Winchester City but, realistically, he thinks it’s a “pipe dream”.

The Citizens’ boss, who leads his troops into a Southern One South & West derby action at AFC Totton tomorrow (January 2, 3pm), has been inundated with phone calls ever since it was confirmed that Bentley wants to leave troubled National League South outfit Gosport Borough.

But while Saunders believes Winchester still hold a special place in the little maestro’s heart, he would be surprised to see him back at S&W level.

“I’d give my right arm for someone like Warren but, let’s be honest, he’s Gosport’s top scorer and, in my opinion, it would be remiss of them to let him go," said the City boss.

“But, if they do, I’m sure he will go to a more appropriate level.

“That said, he likes Winchester, he gets on well with (director of football) Dave Malone and he’s got a lot of mates playing for us. So if he’s looking to just enjoy his football again, then please come and play for us.

“But I can’t even think about that. Warren’s a Conference South player at the moment – and a very accomplished one at that.

“I’m sure a number of clubs with bigger budgets and a more appropriate level of football will come in for him.”

Since Bentley moved on during the summer, AFC Totton old boy Craig Feeney has taken on the mantle of City’s master marksman with 24 goals to his name.

His absence and that of skipper Stuart Green was keenly felt last Tuesday when Winchester's five-match winning December league streak was halted by a 1-0 home defeat to Wimborne Town.

Both Feeney and Green will be back tomorrow, but left-back Danny King misses out.

King bowed out at half-time with mild concussion against Wimborne after taking a blow to the face and, under FA rules, has to sit out 14 days.

“It’s disappointing, but we’ve got to think of Danny’s welfare and not my selfish welfare of trying to get our best team out,” said Saunders.

Winchester’s pre-Christmas burst of form has lifted them to 13th, 14 points clear of third-to-bottom Totton.

But the Stags are playing better than their league position suggests under new boss Louis Langdown and Saunders expects a tough game at the Testwood Stadium.

“I saw Totton play at Salisbury on Boxing Day and, although they lost 2-0, they gave a real good account of themselves,” he said.

“Lou and Adam (Wilde, player/assistant) have got them ticking. They’ve got good shape about them and they’re putting a real good shift in, which is all a manager can ask.

"We had a great run which Wimborne came and spoilt for us. They did their homework and stopped us playing and we're licking our wounds a bit after that. It made for a drab end to 2016.

"But we didn't have Feens, our top scorer, and we didn't have Green.

"Stu (Green) is a good footballer but, above all, it's his energy we missed."