CAPTAIN Tommy Elphick says promotion-chasing Cherries are determined not to be “nearly men” and admits: Now is the time to prove ourselves.

Elphick issued a rallying cry as Cherries prepared to continue their bid for League One glory during the final five matches of the campaign.

The influential centre-half made his long-awaited return to action on Friday and helped Cherries seal a 1-0 victory over Colchester.

Starting his first game since suffering a knee injury at MK Dons on February 2, Elphick played a key role as Cherries climbed into the top two.

The former Brighton star, who could feature against Scunthorpe today (3pm), hopes Cherries can extend their run of four successive wins as the race for honours gathers pace during the run-in.

Elphick told the Daily Echo: “We are playing teams below us now so, on ability and on paper, we should win every game.

“But the big thing is the mentality and whether we have got the right mentality to do it.

“The only way we can prove that is by winning the next five games.

“It is all there. We are the right age and we are all good characters wanting to get to the next level. It is a massive opportunity.

“The message before the game at Colchester was that we don’t want to be nearly men. We want to do it.

“This dressing room is unique and everyone is together and fighting for the same goal, whether they are playing or not.

“The longer we can keep that going and the longer we can stay together as a group and keep growing, the better it is for the club.”

Meanwhile, Elphick believes Cherries keeper Ryan ‘Rocky’ Allsop can establish himself as a leading performer at Dean Court.

Elphick played alongside the January signing for the first time during the victory over Colchester.

Allsop has helped Cherries register four wins and three clean sheets in his five appearances for the Dorset club.

Elphick said: “It was the first time I had played with Rocky and he was brilliant.

“He has all the attributes to be a top keeper. He is technically very clean and strikes the ball brilliantly.

“He is a good size, he is young and he is still learning.”