Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Lovell feeling good after full pre-season
SEASONED striker Steve Lovell is hoping to exorcise the ghost of his injury nightmare once and for all by returning to haunt League One defences for Cherries.[LNB] Lovell, who signed a one-year deal with further 12-month option in May, could emerge as a key man for Cherries after spending much of last season sidelined by an ankle problem.[LNB] Having returned to action towards the end of the campaign, the Verwood-raised frontman proved his quality with a finely-taken double in the play-off defeat at Huddersfield Town.[LNB] A product of the Cherries youth system, fit-again Lovell is now aiming to keep himself away from the treatment table to become a star man for the club he first joined as a teenager.[LNB] The forward has displayed his goalscoring talents and sharpness during pre-season by finding the net four times.[LNB] Discussing his progress during Cherries' summer warm-up campaign, Lovell told the Daily Echo: Touch wood, everything has been good. I have been able to take part in all of pre-season and, hopefully, the injury side of things is behind me now.[LNB] I am just looking forward to being involved and scoring goals again. I am getting fitter and stronger all the time. I am looking forward to getting a solid base behind me this season.[LNB] In a way, I am still playing catch-up. But I am looking forward to it and things are moving on well.[LNB] Because I missed such a long time, it is still going to take me a while to get back to where I was. But I am happy with the way things are going.[LNB] Pre-season has been hugely important and we are almost back on a level playing field again. I am feeling good and going into games with confidence.[LNB] Lovell endured a frustrating start to his second spell with Cherries and required surgery to finally cure a long-standing ankle injury.[LNB] But now the former Scottish Premier League man is preparing to battle the likes of Danny Ings and Michael Symes for a place in Lee Bradbury's preferred frontline.[LNB] He wants to continue where he left off last term at the Galpharm Stadium and believes Cherries' pre-season form points to a promising campaign ahead.[LNB] Asked about his personal aims, Lovell added: Just to carry on how last season ended would be good.[LNB] I feel we have still got a great bunch of boys here and we have got a good work ethic.[LNB] I am looking forward to the season. I think we have showed against some good teams during this pre-season that we can do well.[LNB]
