FORMER top-flight French forward Amadou Alassane has returned to the game on trial with Kidderminster Harriers six years after retiring with a heart defect.

The 32-year-old impressed in the top two divisions across the English Channel for Le Havre from 2006 until 2009 with 18 goals in 72 league games after playing at a lower level with AM Neiges.

Alassane's performances attracted interest from the likes of Hull City and he had an unsuccessful week-long trial with Scottish giants Celtic, when he was valued in the £1.5million bracket, before leaving the professional game.

The 6ft 2ins French-born Mauritanian forward surprisingly returned as a substitute with Harriers to net in the 2-0 win at Northern League side Romulus, where Whild otherwise fielded a mainly young XI in their opening pre-season friendly.

Whild takes a Harriers XI to Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division side Bedworth United tomorrow night (7.30pm) but Alassane might not be involved.

Midfielder Jake Green scored the first goal at Romulus.

Whild said: “It was a relatively young team but I was pleased. The two goals were well-taken and, especially in the second-half, we looked a threat in the last third.”

On Alassane, Whild added: “He did well and it wasn’t easy out there with the conditions and the pitch.

“He settled into the game and the longer it went on the better he looked. He showed some good touches and took his goal well.

“We’ll have a chat with him in terms of his circumstances moving forward and see where we are.”

Harriers have added another pre-season friendly at home to League One outfit Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday, July 28 (7.45pm).