Telford's Callum Gittings relishing a Kidderminster Harriers reunion

AFC Telford's 30-year-old former Harriers star spent five years at Aggborough from 2010 to 2015, making 190 appearances.

Gittings helped Kidder to sixth twice, second in 2013 – when they finished two points behind champions Mansfield and lost in the play-offs to Wrexham – seventh and 16th in the National League Premier.

But after an uncompromising game on Saturday when the Bucks went down 2-1 to FC Halifax, the midfielder is looking forward to a match for the purists tonight.

"It's going to be a bit strange because I had some great times there and enjoyed it," said Gittings.

"It will be a good footballing contest because you don't want to be battling for second balls all the time.

"It will nice to play a footballing game and it's a nice surface here too.

"It will be a completely different game (to Saturday) because both sides will want to play football.

"I'm excited because it's also a local-ish derby and we want three points. Hopefully we can come out on top."

Gittings was voted Harriers' player of the year in 2013-14 and he is expecting a positive reception from the travelling supporters for what will be the first competitive fixture he has played against Kidderminster.

"Hopefully I should get a good one – it will be a bit strange but I'm excited about it," he said.

"We just need to get that win on the board to push us back up to mid-table.

"I've never played against them in a competitive game before but I've played against them in pre-season a few years back for Cinderford.

"Phil Mullen, who was at Cinderford at the time, used to be at Kiddy and we used to play them in the days of Bo Henriksen and Jesper Christiansen.

"Jan Molby had just got the sack and Shaun Cunnington was in charge there at the time.

"So it will be good to play them. We've just got to come out as we did on Saturday because we started really well. If we do that, we'll be in the game.

"They're flying high and had a good win on Friday at Darlington.

"But I think once we get another win, they will start coming and we'll be all right."

Gittings moved on to Solihull Moors under former Telford and Kidderminster player Marcus Bignot and won a National League North title winners medal last season.

And although there aren't many team-mates still there from his time at Aggborough, he still keeps in touch with old colleagues.

"There's really only 'Yasser' (Jared Hodgkiss) there from my time but the team from two years ago go out together every Christmas," he said.

"A lot of the lads have left but a few are at Solihull and others are at Torquay, so we all still speak to each other."

Harriers have made an encouraging start to the season after relegation and currently sit fourth in National League North.

Gittings is expecting them to remain in contention to return to the National Premier at the first time of asking.

"It's a great set-up and they're full-time so they're going to be fit, but those are the games you want to play in," he said.