AFC Bournemouth duo Adam Smith and Marcus Tavernier could be back in the first-team squad after manager Andoni Iraola announced that they have resumed light training.
This is seen as the first step on the road to recovery for the pair who have been sidelined due to injury for all of the Cherries’ four games this season.
Tavernier had suffered a knee injury in preseason whereas Smith had suffered a muscle injury.
Their return could be a huge boost for the manager as he looks to secure his side’s first victory this season in the league. Bournemouth will be facing unbeaten Brentford in their fourth league game on Saturday.
Iraola said on Friday; “(Marcus) Tavernier and Adam Smith are, I would say, training partly with the team.”
The Spaniard also suggested that he is going to be careful with integrating the two into the squad. He said: “I don’t know if it’s good for them to (play) tomorrow, but I would say they are the closest to being part of the team.”
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Tavernier was an important player for the Cherries last season under former manager Gary O’Neil. The 24-year-old only joined them last season from Middlesbrough and went on to become one of the first names on the team sheet.
Smith, on the other hand, is a veteran who has been at the Vitality Stadium since 2014. He has represented the Cherries in over 300 games since arriving nine years ago from Tottenham Hotspur.
Bournemouth have struggled to find a balance in midfield in all of their competitive games this season. Their first victory of the season only came against Swansea City in the second round of the Carabao Cup.
New signing Tyler Adams and Alex Scott are also out injured, adding to Bournemouth’s midfield woes. They are also missing Dango Outtara, Ryan Fredericks and Emiliano Marcondes due to separate injuries.
Philip Billings and Joe Rothwell have started all the games in the middle of the park behind Ryan Christie in the number 10 spot.
It is now likely that Smith and Tavernier will be part of the first-team squad in Bournemouth’s game against Chelsea on September 17, after the international break.
