BRENTFORD goalkeeper Daniel Bentley is relishing a return to Roots Hall tonight - even if he does not play.

Bentley - who made 160 appearances during a successful spell for the Shrimpers - will be back at his hometown club for this evening’s first round clash in the Carabao Cup.

And the 25-year-old cannot wait to be back in familiar surroundings for the first time since his departure in 2016.

“I’m quite excited because I’ve been wanting to come back and show my face for a long time now but it just hasn’t worked out,” said Bentley, who has yet to play in a cup game for Brentford.

“Whenever we’ve had an international break, Southend seem to have been away or we’ve been called into training and every time I’ve tried to come back there has been a hitch.

“It’s been frustrating and disappointing but it’s quite natural now that I can come back as an opposition player and it makes it all the more interesting.”

Bentley, who attended Bromfords School in Wickford, joined the Shrimpers at the age of 16 after his release from Arsenal.

And the shot-stopper will forever be grateful for the opportunities which came his way while at Roots Hall.

“Southend will always hold a very special place in my heart,” said Bentley.

“I’ll always come back and want to support the club and make sure it’s a club I have full respect and admiration for.

“I’ll forever be thankful to them too and I still have a lot of flashbacks about Southend too.

“It’s always the first result I look for and I follow all the news on social media too, so it would be quite romantic if I did play tonight.

“But I will definitely be there even if it’s just as a spectator like everyone else.”

Bentley will be best remembered for his part in the Shrimpers’ promotion via the League Two play-offs in 2015.

The custodian saved two penalties in Blues’ shoot-out success against Wycombe Wanderers and now has a permanent reminder of his Wembley success.

“I’ve got a Wembley memento framed in my house. It has my shirt in, pictures and the programme,” said Bentley.

“My medal is also in a trophy cabinet in my house so I have so many fond memories from my time at Southend but it’s not just Wembley.

“I’ll never forget those times and where I’ve come from.

“The fans were great to me and I was always treated really well.”

Bentley has continued to impress in the Championship with Brentford.

But he still remains determined to play higher.

“I never look too far ahead and don’t think I should be playing in the Premier League now but I do have certain goals and ambitions to get there,” said Bentley.

“I’ve always wanted to do that and play for England too, but that should be all players’ ambition.”