Kingstonian boss Alan Dowson is confident Ian Pearce will sign for the club as the former Premier League winning defender bids to re-invent himself as a striker.

The 35-year-old centre back led the line against one of his ex-employers on Friday night as Ks crashed 3-0 to a highly skilled West Ham United side featuring Scottish international Nigel Quashie.

It was Pearce’s second appearance for Ks this pre-season and he is set to feature again before the campaign opening clash at Ashford Town on August 15.

The former Blackburn Rovers defender retired from the professional game last year and his coaching commitments with the Fulham youth set-up could curtail his involvement in Kingstonian’s Ryman League Premier Division campaign.

But Dowson is more than happy to get the player’s signature if he can be involved on a ‘play-when-you’re-available’ basis and he is just as likely to be deployed as a centre-forward as in his customary role in the back four.

“When he has played for us he has been excellent. He can slot in anywhere and shown he is as good up front as he is at the back,” he said.

“I’m confident he will sign to play for us. He’s quite a busy lad and he has other commitments to consider, but even if he can only play two or three of every four games I’m happy for him to do that.

“He trains with Fulham during the week and if he can’t make our sessions that doesn’t bother me either because I’ll know he’ll stay fit.

“He needs to sit down with his wife to discuss it, but he is definitely keen because he rang me on Saturday asking if he can play again this week.”

Dowson was pleased with his side’s performance in Friday’s defeat, despite the scoreline, and believes his side is beginning to take shape as he eyes a couple of new faces to bring in before the start of the campaign.

“We did well. West Ham showed the gap between the Premier League and the rest is massive because that was their second string and they were first class,” he added.

“That said, considering we lost 8-0 to a similar sort of Fulham side last year I think we have come a long way and two of the goals we conceded were stupid.

“We’re still looking at one or two more new boys. Managers from higher levels are tipping us off about players they can’t fit in to their squads.

“But unless they are better than what we have we’ll not be moving for them.”

Kingstonian’s next three games: Aug 8 Leatherhead (a), Aug 11 Merstham (a), Aug 15 Ashford Town (Ryman Prem, a).