KEVIN Bond is hoping Marvin Bartley's powerhouse performances rub off on his team-mates as Cherries look to compete physically in League Two.

Bartley's all-action style has not gone unnoticed since he broke into the first team and manager Bond wants his players to learn from the former non-league star's energetic exploits.

The midfield dynamo, who signed his first pro contract with Cherries last summer, has endeared himself to the Dean Court faithful by producing a string of wholehearted efforts.

And Bond believes Bartley's stamina and power, coupled with guile from the likes of Darren Anderton, can help provide Cherries with a good blend in the centre of the park.

He said: "Marvin has started the season well. He gives the side energy, he's got power and bags of energy.

"I think his energy is quite infectious as well and I'd like it to be. He chases lost causes, closes people down, harries people and gets about the pitch very well.

"If you look at the sides we're playing, certainly the first two teams we've played, there was a lot of strength about Gillingham and a lot of energy, I thought, in the Aldershot team.

"Regardless of how good you are as an individual and a group and how talented you may be, unless you can compete and are willing to compete and earn the right to be able to play, teams aren't going to allow you to play the game you want to play.

"I think, in particular, the Aldershot game was like that. Marvin is a person who can handle that quite well.

"If it were possible, other people and people you'd like to attract to the club, as well as being able to handle the football, need to handle the physical side and energy levels you need to play in League Two."

Although he has made a promising start to his career with Cherries, Bond thinks Bartley still has improvements to make on certain aspects of his game.

He said: "He needs to work hard on the technical side of the game.

"His end product isn't as consistent as I'd like it to be or he'd like it to be.

"He gets into good positions and his final ball isn't always executed as well as he and I would like, so he needs to work hard in training.

"But I love his energy levels and his attitude."