JAY Gasson wants to show Havant and Waterlooville what they are missing when he returns to his former club on Monday.

The 25-year-old spent two seasons at the south Hampshire club before signing for Basingstoke Town in the summer – but was mostly employed as a left-back.

Gasson prefers to play in the centre of defence and this had a part in his decision to leave Havant and join up with Town manager Frank Gray, who he had previously played under at Farnborough and Woking.

“Havant are a great club but they always played me out of position,” Gasson explained. “Frank and Gerry (Murphy – Town’s assistant manager) made it clear they wanted me as a centre-half, which is a position I enjoy playing much more than left-back.”

As a result, he has no shortage of motivation ahead of Monday night’s trip to his former stomping ground – but he also knows first hand how hard it is for away teams to win at Westleigh Park.

“I want to get one over on them when we go down there,” he said. “It’s a good ground and a nice pitch, which sometimes brings the best out of players, so hopefully we can go there and do well.

“It’s a tough place to go to but they have an FA Cup game on Saturday and we have got to go there with fresh legs. They have got good players and seem to have gelled recently so it should be a good game.”

Gasson is one of several current Town players who also played under Gray at Farnborough and Woking and is enjoying life back alongside them at the Camrose.

“I am really enjoying it here,” he said. “I played with a lot of the lads at Farnborough and it is good to be back playing with them, while I also get on well with the management.

“We started the season badly but have picked up very well and everyone can see that. It started at Eastleigh when we were put into this formation and it just seemed to come together.”

Gasson may be happy to be back alongside players such as Matt Warner, Steve Laidler and Matt Pattison but it is a new relationship that has really flourished so far this season.

Ross Adams was brought in from Chippenham to partner Gasson in central defence and the two immediately dovetailed – with Town currently boasting the sixth best defensive record in the Blue Square South.

“Ross has come up from a lower level but he is a decent lad and a good player,” Gasson said. “He is a calm head and has been around a while.

“We both know what non-league football is about and I think we are doing all right together.”