IF Tim Stephenson ever wanted a role model, he need look no farther than to his big pal Danny Ings.

While Ings was spending last season shooting to prominence, Stephenson was familiarising himself with the Dean Court treatment suite.

However, while their respective paths may have differed significantly during the past 12 months, the pair share much in common when it comes to injury problems.

Stephenson had the luxury of a 12-month contract when he penned his first professional deal after graduating from the Cherries youth ranks.

Ings, who was blighted by injury during his final season as an apprentice, was less fortunate, with former boss Eddie Howe giving him just three months to prove himself.

For Ings, the rest, as the saying goes, is history.

For Stephenson, the past 12 months have been nothing short of a nightmare.

But with Lee Bradbury clearly realising his potential, the 19-year-old defender has been handed a new six-month contract, much to the relief of Stephenson.

“I am so grateful to the manager for giving me this chance,” said Stephenson, who joined Cherries when he was eight. “It was either going to be a short-term contract or nothing.

“To get six months really gives me a good opportunity to prove myself. I need to stay fit.”

Hailing from Southampton, Stephenson played his youth football for Copythorne before he was spotted by Cherries scouts and invited for a trial.

Appointed team captain by Joe Roach, Stephenson was one of three from his intake to make the grade, with Ings and goalkeeper Dan Thomas also stepping into the first-team squad this time last year.

However, a catalogue of misfortune saw him struck down by a hernia problem during |pre-season before a recurrent knee injury and tendonitis conspired to ruin his first year with the big boys.

Stephenson said: “It was a frustrating year but, at the same time, it was a big learning curve for me. I had a few injuries and they were hard to deal with. The senior pros and the psychologist helped me get stronger and Steve Hard (physio) and Louis Langdown (conditioning coach) both spent long sessions helping me back to fitness.

“I was just desperate to get my fitness back and play games. I only played three or four times last season so I need lots of game-time now. Depending on how things pan out, I may go somewhere on loan.

“I know I have got to take my chance and work hard. I need to make sure I get in the manager’s eye-line and prove myself.

“It has been brilliant to see what Danny has achieved. He deserves it because he worked so hard during those three months at the start of last season. He showed great determination and seized his chance with both hands when it came along. I have got to make sure I am ready if I get the same opportunity.”