Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Lovell keen to repay fans' patience
STEVE Lovell is aiming to repay Cherries' patience and forget his injury torment by helping the club achieve promotion.[LNB] Cherries' forgotten man is today set to make his eagerly awaited return after almost 12 months on the sidelines.[LNB] The injury plagued frontman, who was snapped up on a one-year contract in the summer, is expected to make his first appearance since rejoining Cherries in this afternoon's reserve match against Swindon Town at Dean Court (2pm).[LNB] Frustrated by a long-term ankle problem, Lovell has been back in first-team training for two weeks and is in line to step up his bid for full fitness against the Robins.[LNB] Lovell, brother of former Cherries boss Eddie Howe, has had three operations on his ankle injury and saw his recovery hampered by complications following one of those procedures in April.[LNB] However, after a painstaking recovery mission, he is now poised to put on his boots once again.[LNB] And the totesport.com Combination clash will offer Cherries supporters a fresh look at the striker, who is in his second spell at Dean Court, having progressed through the club's youth ranks.[LNB] Speaking to the Daily Echo, Lovell said: There is a massive difference from running to training and then playing in a game, so I'm going to be rusty but I'm looking forward to it.[LNB] I'm not worried about how it is going to go, I am just looking forward to finally getting back to playing.[LNB] I know that I'm very unlikely to be starting games or getting close to that. But if I can play some part off the bench and do my bit, hopefully I can repay the patience of the fans, chairman, manager and all the players.[LNB] It is not easy being out for so long with an injury when it is my career and it is what I do.[LNB] But you can kind of see the frustration of the fans when you have got someone who hasn't been able to play. So, I would like to be able to do something to repay them because this is my home club as well.[LNB] He added: The boys have done brilliantly this season. I want to be part of that and I want us to go up into a new league.[LNB] Now it is coming down to the last few games, it is going to be difficult but we know that.[LNB] We have been up at the top all season and it is not by luck.[LNB] I would just love to be able to play some part in taking us up.[LNB] In August, Lovell offered to only draw 50 per cent of his monthly salary until such time as he is fit to return to action.[LNB]
