BOSS Paul Groves has attempted to raise the spirits of frustrated Cherries star Matt Tubbs by telling him: “Your chance will come.”

Tubbs has been disheartened after being left on the bench for Cherries’ past three League One encounters with Preston, Sheffield United and Yeovil.

The striker, whose only start this season came in the Capital One Cup at Oxford, has been restricted to two brief substitute appearances in the league.

And Tubbs, in an interview with the Daily Echo earlier this week, made his feelings known when he pleaded with Groves to either play him or let him go elsewhere.

However, although both Crawley and Rotherham are understood to be monitoring the situation, Cherries boss Groves insisted Tubbs’ future was at Goldsands Stadium.

Groves told the Daily Echo: “From a point of view of not playing, you can understand it. You want players who want to play and his opportunities have been limited.

“I am sure he will get his chance and I am sure he is more than capable of taking it. I have spoken with him on a number of occasions and we have had good dialogue, which is important.

“I can understand his frustrations but, also, the players in front of him have done quite well. A lot of things have to be taken into consideration when you look at your substitutes, who to start and who to bring off the bench. He has been unfortunate not to come on.”

Groves’ decision to either start or use from the bench misfiring Wes Thomas ahead of Tubbs has continued to baffle some Cherries supporters.

Asked by the Daily Echo for his take on the matter, Groves replied: “He played at Oxford and came on at Portsmouth and against MK Dons. We could only have five subs in the JPT and Lee Barnard got the nod ahead of any other striker.

“At Yeovil, we were always conscious we wanted someone who could play up front on their own if we had to change things and put five across midfield. It would have been difficult for Matt to do that.

“He has been a little unfortunate in terms of the depth of the squad and the quality within it. I think everybody recognises Matt is a goalscorer and I am sure there will be opportunities along the way for him to show people what he is capable of. Sometimes, you have to be patient.”

Tubbs is again likely to be on the bench when Groves’ men host Hartlepool tomorrow (3pm). Richard Hughes (thigh) is Cherries’ only major injury concern, although Lee Barnard will remain sidelined due to a knee problem. Eunan O’Kane could return to the squad following international duty, while Neil Austin serves a one-match suspension for Pools.

Cherries: (from) Jalal, Francis, Addison, Elphick, Cook, Hughes, MacDonald, Arter, Fogden, McQuoid, Grabban, Tubbs, Zubar, Partington, Thomas, Pugh, Daniels, McDermott, Fletcher.

Pools: (from) Flinders, Collins, Hartley, Horwood, Franks, Murray, Sweeney, Monkhouse, Howard, Poole, Baldwin, Lynch, James, Walton, Humphreys, Holden, Luscombe, McHugh.