FORMER England midfielder Matt Le Tissier is backing his fellow Channel Islander Brett Pitman to enjoy a prolific Championship season with Cherries.

The ex-Saints star is planning to keep a close eye on Pitman’s progress, although the striker is a doubt for tomorrow’s curtain-raiser against Charlton at Dean Court (3pm).

Guernsey-born Le Tissier is convinced promotion hero Pitman, who hails from Jersey, will be a big hit again this season.

Le Tissier said: “I have followed Brett ever since I came down to Dean Court for a friendly with Southampton and he scored four or five against us.

“He looked a real natural finisher that day and he has been scoring goals, especially for Bournemouth, ever since.

“I know he left the club for a little adventure at Bristol City which didn’t quite work out for him. But he came back to Bournemouth last season, scored a few goals and helped them into the Championship.

“Anyway, I have got to back him because he is a Channel Islander – even if he comes from the other one!”

Le Tissier added: “What Eddie Howe has done at Bournemouth in two spells is quite phenomenal.

“It has been an incredible turnaround and I really hope they do well this season.

“And I like the fact that they play the game the way it should be played. They do things the right way.”

Le Tissier was speaking at the launch of his new online game Goalden Goals – the brainchild of Bournemouth-based sports writer Graham Nickless, who |is a Dean Court regular and Football League columnist for The Sun.