EDDIE HOWE believes his Cherries squad is STRONGER than before lockdown.
The Bournemouth boss cannot wait to commence the club’s nine-game relegation battle, starting with Crystal Palace.
Howe will have several key players fit again when Roy Hodgson’s Eagles visit the Vitality Stadium next month.
David Brooks, Lloyd Kelly and Arnaut Danjuma are back on duty after long-term injuries, with fit-again Steve Cook and Chris Mepham also ready for action.
Howe, back at his desk plotting team tactics after the 12-week enforced break, said: “It’s really good getting back to work.
“The stuff we did with groups of five was very productive and very enjoyable — but I’m still delighted to get back to full- contact training.
“And I’m also delighted to be in the office preparing for the Premier League restart, planning has definitely started for Palace.
“We have got just over three weeks to get our preparations right — and that time is going to zip by.
“We must now make sure the players are fit, ready and able to cope with the demands that come afterwards.
“These nine games are so important to us and we need to get our best players on the pitch.”
BROOKES BACK
Bournemouth are third bottom in the table, with the same points (27) as West Ham (16th) and Watford (17th).
But Howe believes he has a better armoury now to face his relegation rivals.
Wales midfielder Brooks, 22, enjoyed a magnificent debut season for the Cherries — scoring seven goals and also racking up five assists.
But he has yet to kick a ball this campaign after suffering an ankle injury in July.
Defender Kelly, a £13million signing from Bristol City last summer, is still to make his Premier League debut after picking up a thigh injury.
Dutchman Danjuma is also back in the frame after two foot injuries restricted the classy winger to just nine appearances since his summer move from Club Brugge.
FIVE PLAYERS BACK
Howe, 42, added: “Fingers crossed we will have a stronger squad than when we stopped playing.
“Yes, it will be a huge lift and boost for us when we get Brooks back — we’ve definitely missed him this season.
“He’s a very, very good player and did so well for us last season, building up such good relationships with all the others around him.
“So far he is looking good and I’m really happy with his progress, fingers crossed he will be OK for the first game.
“But it’s not just him. There are other players that could come back into contention.
“Arnaut Danjuma, Chris Mepham, Lloyd Kelly and Steve Cook are all back in training and they were not available when we stopped.
“I would like to think by the time we get back to playing, we will be stronger in defence and other areas as well.”
Howe’s training plans were rocked last week when keeper Aaron Ramsdale tested positive for coronavirus, as exclusively revealed by SunSport.
But Howe was happy to declare that his star striker Joshua King had settled back into training with no problem.
King, whose wife had just given birth to a baby girl, expressed fears back home in Norway that he was now worried about returning to the UK because he has asthma.
Howe confessed: “Obviously Aaron’s positive test ramped up the anxiety within the squad.
“And the seriousness of this virus really brought it closer to home for us. But we had no players that didn’t want to train.
“There was no problem with Joshua. He joined in just fine.”
