MARCUS Tavernier has labelled his summer switch to Cherries as “the best decision I’ve made so far in my career”.

The 23-year-old arrived at the Vitality Stadium from Championship side Middlesbrough in August for a reported fee of around £12million, making Cherries just the third club Tavernier has represented at a senior level, after a six-month loan spell at Milton Keynes Dons in 2018.

Leeds-born, Tavernier started his footballing career in the youth system at Newcastle United, before making the switch to Teesside at under-14 level.

Apart from the aforementioned loan at MK Dons, Tavernier spent just shy of a decade at the Riverside, joining the club in 2013 and progressing into the first team, where he made 155 senior appearances for Boro.

Tavernier has been ever-present in the Premier League since joining Cherries, starting in all 15 league fixtures under both Gary O’Neil and his predecessor Scott Parker.

Whilst Cherries fans were largely impressed with his livewire performances early on in his career on the south coast, Tavernier quashed doubts regarding his output in the final three games before the break, bursting into life with two goals and four assists.

The former Boro man attributed his seamless transition to his teammates with helping him settle quickly in Dorset.

Reflecting on his transfer this summer, Tavernier told the Daily Echo: “I think this is probably the best decision I've made so far in my career.

“I can't thank the boys enough for helping me settle in down here.

“I just feel like I can be my normal self and play with confidence on the pitch.”
Cherries as a whole will take confidence from their league position heading into the second half of the season, with O’Neil’s charges sitting in 14th with 16 points from their opening 15 games.

Although only three points separate Cherries from the relegation zone, Tavernier believes his team have shown they have what it takes to go and secure safety in the latter half of the campaign.

“I think everyone looking at us and the performances we've put in, we've shown that we're capable to stay in this league.

“We've had a couple of performances where we haven't got the results, and we haven't put the points on the board but I think if you see and watch us play, that we're more than capable to stay in this league.”

Tavernier is currently with Cherries in Dubai as O’Neil’s side gear up for their return to competitive fixtures at the end of the month.

Cherries return to action on Wednesday, December 21, when they travel to Newcastle in the fourth round of the League Cup.