ECCLESHILL United’s captain Aran Basi has lavished praise on young on-loan winger Tabish Hussain for his conduct on and off the pitch, ahead of the Eagles’ mouthwatering derby showdown at Thackley.

Basi will be going up against his older brother Ryan at Dennyfield tomorrow, and said his sibling will be out for revenge given that Eccleshill have won both matches between the two sides this season.

The Eagles are in great form at the moment, with a now-settled squad only losing one of its last six.

They will go above Thackley in the Toolstation Northern Counties East League Premier Division with an away win, something Basi is confident they can get given the players they have.

Referring to teenage teammate Hussain first, Basi said: “Tabish is quality. He’s a great fella around the changing room and he’s so humble.

Even though he’s come down from a higher level (Guiseley), he doesn’t act like he thinks he’s better than us.

“His skill and quality on the ball are so impressive too, just his ability to beat his man.

“He will go a long way in the game.”

Hussain has netted twice in his last three matches, but he took a back seat last weekend in the goalscoring stakes, with the returning Antony Brown hitting both goals in a 2-1 home win over Athersley Recreation.

Captain Basi is delighted to have the striker in the team again, saying: “It’s important to have Browny back. He’s been injured so that was his first game back and he’s out there scoring a brace.

“That should be good for us ahead of the derby.”

The game between Thackley and Eccleshill has become jokingly referred to as ‘El Basico’ in reference to the sibling showdown, and the Eccleshill brother said it is a clash he relishes, rather than fears.

He said: “You shouldn’t treat the game differently to any other, but deep down it’s the one you really want to win. If we win we can go above them too, so that’s an extra carrot for us.”

Despite the rivalry, Basi is confident that he and his brother will not fall out, whatever the result tomorrow.

He said: “It’s really fun (the banter) all week leading up to the game but win, lose or draw, we’ll go out for a meal with a few others afterwards. I think we’ve decided that the loser pays though.

“The build up is great and we get in jokes against each other. It’s just nice to have a ‘different’ fixture like this.

“Ryan will be after revenge though after two defeats.”

After Eccleshill’s 3-1 win in the NCEL League Cup at the end of September, which saw baby Basi score a crucial second, and a 2-1 home league victory in October, will older brother make it third time lucky?

SATURDAY'S LOCAL NON-LEAGUE FIXTURES

Vanarama National League North:

Altrincham v Bradford (Park Avenue)

Brackley Town v Guiseley

Farsley Celtic v AFC Telford United

Betvictor Northern Premier League North West Division:

Marine AFC v Brighouse Town

Toolstation Northern Counties East League Premier Division:

Liversedge v Handsworth

Maltby Main v Albion Sports

Silsden v Knaresborough Town

Thackley v Eccleshill United

Toolstation Northern Counties East League Division One:

Campion v Swallownest

North West Counties League First Division North:

Steeton v Ashton Town