EX-HEREFORD United striker Stuart Fleetwood hopes he gets a reasonable reception from the Bulls fans as he returns to Edgar Street on Bank Holiday Monday.

The 31-year-old will line-up for Merthyr Town as the Welsh side take on Hereford in a mouthwatering Southern Premier League derby.

Fleetwood enjoyed two spells with the Bulls between 2006 and 2011 and will be remembered for scoring a stunning hat-trick against Coventry City that knocked the then Championship club out of the League Cup.

But he also divided some fans during his time at club, with some supporters believing he had an attitude problem.

"I would probably agree with them," said Fleetwood.

"I was 19 and doing well and scored the club's first goal back in the Football League.

"There was talk of me possibly moving to a bigger club, which can get to your head.

"But people will have seen that I have always worked hard and any manager I have worked with won't say a bad word about me.

"Hopefully the Hereford fans will remember the good points of my time there and I get a half decent reception.

"Although once the game starts, I know the rivalry will be stoked up."

Fleetwood was part of the Hereford side that gained promotion to the Football League in 2006 and he scored their first goal in League Two against Stockport County.

He scored again against Chester before he grabbed the headlines with that hat-trick against Coventry.

However, Fleetwood said his favourite moment in a Bulls shirt was when he scored the winning goal against Bradford City that kept the club in the Football League in 2011.

"I scored 18 goals that season and it was such a relief knowing we were safe," said Fleetwood.

Fleetwood was sold to Luton Town on transfer deadline day the following season and he gained promotion top the Football League with the Bedfordshire side, as well as being part of the side that upset then Premier-League Norwich City in the FA Cup.

The striker later returned to non-league football with Eastleigh, before spells with Forest Green Rovers, Sutton United and Bath City followed.

Last season, he was at Weymouth where he scored 17 goals in the Southern Premier League before moving to Merthyr.

He has three goals so far this season for the unbeaten Martyrs and netted yesterday in a 3-0 win over Farnborough.

Fleetwood said that this time of the season is always exciting due to two games being played in two days,

"It's a big game on Monday for both set of fans," said Fleetwood.

"I wouldn't say it's a six pointer like some people are making out as it'll only be the fifth game of the season, but it would be good to set a marker down."

Merthyr are managed by former Hereford United player Gavin Williams, while Oliver Davies is set to be in goal.

Davies was signed by Bulls manager Pete Beadle in the post-season, but soon left to have trials elsewhere before returning to Merthyr.

"It just didn't work out for him at Hereford, which sometimes happens in football," added Fleetwood.

"But he's a top keeper and is a big presence, so we were delighted to have him back."

Adam Davies - who also scored for Merthyr yesterday - is another player who signed for Hereford before later returning to the Welsh side.