Lorenzo Pinamonte's celebrations will be somewhat muted if he scores the winning goal for Leyton Orient against Albion on Saturday.

The big Italian admits he still has a soft spot for the Seagulls following his loan spell with Micky Adams' men last season.

"If I score the winning goal I probably won't enjoy it very much," he said.

"Obviously I would be very happy, but Brighton are still in my heart. I had a great time down there.

"I hope the Brighton fans give me a good reception. I think I made a good impression when I was there, so I hope they don't whistle against me."

Pinamonte ought really to receive a hero's welcome from the 3,000 Seagulls supporters. He is, after all, the man who had things turned out differently would have prevented Bobby Zamora's move to Albion.

The 22-year-old from Verona joined Albion on a month's loan from Bristol City in December 1999.

Pinamonte was instantly popular on and off the pitch. Supporters warmed to him and he soon settled into Hove's Italian community, striking up a rapport with season ticket holder and restaurant owner Angelo Cavallo.

There was talk on a fans' website of a fund-raising campaign to buy him. Albion made an undisclosed bid and chairman Dick Knight pledged to pull out all the stops to make his move permanent.

But Ron Noades already had his eye on signing Pinamonte for Brentford.

A £75,000 offer and a lucrative three and a half year contract lured Pinamonte to Griffin Park part way through his second month on loan with the Seagulls.

Albion turned instead to Zamora. He made his debut just 11 days after Pinamonte's departure.

Events since suggest fate dealt Albion a very favourable hand. While Zamora has plundered 20 goals, Pinamonte's move to Brentford rapidly turned into a nightmare.

The 22-year-old, who drew a blank in eight of his nine games for the Seagulls, languished as a regular substitute and he was given a free transfer in November.

Pinamonte got a close up view from the bench of his successor when Zamora was on target in the LDV Vans Trophy tie at Brentford in January.

"He gave me a good impression that night," said Pinamonte. "He can certainly see the goal.

"It was nice to see some of the other players again as well."

Orient have now rescued the former Foggia youth forward's career in England.

He was contemplating offers from Italy and Australia before they signed him for the rest of the season.

It's a case of so far so good at Brisbane Road for Pinamonte. "I scored on my debut against Halifax and I scored last Saturday against Lincoln," he said.

"Maybe at the end of the season they will sign me. If not then I will probably go back to Italy.

"I am enjoying it. Everybody is very friendly, including the chairman Barry Hearn, and things are going well. I am looking forward to playing against my old team."

Carl Griffiths is suspended, so there is every chance that Pinamonte will be in Orient's starting line-up and marked by his Albion room-mate Andy Crosby.

"We had some good conversations," quipped Crosby, who was born in Rotherham but sounds like a Scouser.

"Lorenzo is a good player. He did well here and we obviously tried to sign him. He is strong on his left side and it should be a good battle."

Crosby, 28 on Saturday, scored his first goal for Albion in the corresponding fixture last season, which the Seagulls won 2-1 to end their Orient jinx.

He played previously for Doncaster, Darlington and Chester but is now firmly settled on the south coast after moving to Eastbourne in September with his wife and their two-year-old daughter.

Pinamonte regrets that he does not still room with Crosby.

He wishes he had stayed with Albion even if, bearing in mind Zamora's impact, the feeling is no longer mutual.