Alan Dowson wants Kingstonian legend Bobby Traynor to prove his fitness by getting match time under his belt away from Kingsmeadow.

The striker, who scored 129 goals for Ks over five seasons, took a year out due to work commitments but has returned with an eye on pulling on the red and white shirt once again.

However, Dowson admitted the hitman is struggling to regain his fitness, and is not entitled to simply walk into the Ks’ starting line up.

He said: “Bobby’s return was never going to be a fairytale. He has been out for a year and needs to regain his fitness.

“I suggest he spends five or six games elsewhere, maybe in a lower league, to get that match sharpness back, and then we will see.”

Meanwhile, Dowson has enjoyed the Ks’ fine pre-season form, but said it counts for nothing when 3pm on Saturday rolls around.

In eight friendly encounters, only Tottenham Hotspur have beaten Ks, while victories over Aldershot, Walton Casuals and Redhill in the past two weeks have yielded three wins and no goals conceded.

But Dowson is wary of talking up that form as his charges head to Canvey Island this weekend for the opening salvo of the Ryman Premier Division season.

“I could bang on about how good we’ve been and then get beat 4-0 at Canvey, and then how do I look?” he said.

“All we can do is try to continue that form and take it into Saturday, stay relaxed and enjoy it. I know that, come kick off on Saturday, when three points are up for grabs, it’ll get exciting, but we’re not getting carried away.

“Canvey are a good side, both I and Gary [Abbott] have watched them, and we need to be on our game.”

Your Local Guardian: Alan Dowson

Ready but relaxed: Kingstonian boss Alan Dowson   SP72981

Ks have seven league games before the end of August, but Dowson has no qualms about the fixture congestion – in fact he believes it is the sensible option.

Following the Canvey trip, Ks welcome Enfield Town (August 12) and East Thurrock United (August 17) to Kingsmeadow.

Dowson said: “It is a busy start, but that is far more preferable than stretching the fixtures out and then having loads postponed when the weather turns bad, and you end up with a pile-up at the end of the season.”