LLOYD Kelly forced his way back into the Cherries starting line-up against Chelsea thanks to his training performances during the international break, according to his boss Andoni Iraola.
Cherries were without the defender’s services for their last game prior to the international break, Kelly left out of the 2-2 draw at Brentford following a £20million bid from Tottenham Hotspur the day before.
Although numbers were low with multiple Cherries on international duty, Kelly impressed throughout the two-week gap in fixtures, seeing him named at centre-half at the expense of Marcos Senesi.
Explaining the decision to start Kelly, Iraola told the Daily Echo: “He was training really well these past two weeks.
“That's why we decided to go from the beginning with him.
“He played really well. Even he finished as a left back trying to push and I think it's valuable.
“Some tough duels because Lew was covering Enzo (Fernandez), Max (Aarons) was covering Mudryk, then Sterling at the end, the centre backs against (Nicolas) Jackson they were not easy duels today and I think we did pretty well.”
After starting left back Milos Kerkez tired, Senesi was brought on in the second period, seeing Kelly finish the game out on the left flank.
Whilst not as attack-minded as the Hungarian international, Kelly looked solid in the wider role, chipping in defensively whilst also impressing his manager when going forward.
“I think he can play both,” continued Iraola.
“He can play as left back, he can play as centre back. I like that.
“Even finishing the game, we were with one point he tried to push. He arrived to the box. He put a very good cross.
“We're close to scoring with one-two.
“I think he gives us different things from Milos and in some moments probably you need them.”
Kelly and Cherries return to action this Sunday when they visit Brighton & Hove Albion (2pm).
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