DARREN Anderton has given boss Kevin Bond a timely boost by declaring himself fit to return to Cherries' battle for League One survival.

Anderton, who has been sidelined for three weeks with injury and illness, yesterday came through a 63-minute run-out for the reserves at Dean Court.

And after setting up Brett Pitman for Cherries' winner, the 35-year-old playmaker is now targeting a first-team comeback against Millwall on Saturday.

Anderton said: "I feel fine and should be ready for the weekend after a couple of days' training.

"I hurt my groin against Yeovil and came off as a precaution. My knee wasn't really a problem at the time but it was very sore the following day and didn't settle down for a couple of weeks which was frustrating.

"I was ready to train last Thursday but went down with a chest infection. I don't think it would have been a problem if I'd been playing but the fact I hadn't done anything for three weeks meant I wasn't physically fit for Northampton. But I'm fine now and that game will do me good for the weekend.

"I thought it was a decent game and I thought we did okay. Reserve team football is nothing compared with a first-team game but both teams tried to play and it was a nice game to play in."

Anderton was joined in the Cherries starting line-up by Sam Vokes who has been plagued by a nagging back problem for six weeks.

But the young striker, who was also subbed after 63 minutes, appeared to come through unscathed and could be in contention for a recall against the Lions.

However, defender Callum Hart looks set for a brief spell on the sidelines after turning his ankle just seconds before the final whistle.

Hart hobbled away from the ground on crutches with the joint badly swollen and is expected to discover the full extent of the injury later today.

Pitman's sweetly-struck 18th-minute effort handed Eddie Howe his first win as reserve team boss and avenged a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Eagles in January.

New signing Michael Standing impressed in the centre of midfield, while a host of Joe Roach's youth team players also caught the eye.