Marcus Tavernier eyes AFC Bournemouth start v Chelsea after injury woe

Tavernier enjoyed a memorable debut campaign with Cherries, despite being hampered by two separate hamstring issues.

The winger arrived from Middlesbrough for around £12million in the summer of 2022, penning a five-year contract.

His performances when he was fit, scoring five goals and providing four assists in 23 appearances, earned him a new and improved deal with the club in June.

But Tavernier was struck down again during pre-season, suffering a knee problem after a collision in training whilst the team were in Marbella.

The 24-year-old made his return on Saturday, coming off the bench to provide an assist for David Brooks as Cherries drew 2-2 with Brentford in the Premier League.

Tavernier stepped up his return further with 45 minutes for the club’s development squad in a behind-closed-doors game against Sheffield Wednesday at Vitality Stadium on Tuesday.

Marcus Tavernier played 45 minutes for Cherries' development squad on Tuesday (Image: Lewis Corbin Media)

Explaining his latest injury setback, Tavernier told the Daily Echo: “It was something totally unexpected.

“I’d been working with the physios in the off-season, pretty much all the way through to get myself in a good place to come back.

“I was in a great place and it was just one of those things that happens in training, just a collision and unfortunately I got injured.

“But that’s in the past now, I don’t want to talk about injuries anymore, I just want to concentrate on playing on the pitch and giving my all for the team.”

Asked if he feels he is due a run of good fortune to stay injury-free, Tavernier added: “That’s out of my control.

“I pray every night that it doesn’t happen again. But I can only control what I can control and right now I’m fit.

“I’ve been working very hard to get back to this stage, to playing games and help the team out.

“It was good to come on and play a big part in the (Brentford) game. It’s just frustrating we couldn’t get the three points, which everyone in the club wanted.

“But it’s a positive step in the right direction and we have something to build on now when we come back from the international break.”

• Solanke admits draw at Brentford ‘almost feels like a defeat’

Tavernier played the final 20 minutes at Brentford (Image: PA)

Boss Andoni Iraola had previously stated he expected Tavernier to return after the break, when Cherries host Chelsea on September 17.

Asked if he had always eyed Brentford as a possible comeback date, Tavernier said: “This was the game I pencilled in in the physio room as soon as I got injured.

“That’s the timeframe I gave myself and I set my goal to be a part of that game.

“I worked ever so hard and the physios worked hard with me and we’ve come to this and finally got me here and I’m back fit now.”

Discussing the frustration of picking up the injury so soon into Iraola’s tenure, Tavernier said: “I was enjoying every moment of working with him, learning a new philosophy and I feel like it really suited my game a lot.

“It’s just unfortunate to start missing key sessions in training of what he wants.

“But I’m starting to get back into the rhythm. I still feel that I’m not back to my full fitness yet, but I’ve got a good international break, where I can do a lot of hard sessions to get myself fitness and fully ready with what the gaffer wants.”

He added: “The beauty of it now is I’ve got two weeks to get loads more fitness back into my body and my legs and get myself in the best possible shape I can to start for Chelsea.”