Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Pain no barrier for Fletcher
ANDREW Flintoff is not the only sportsman pushing himself through the pain barrier in search of victory this weekend.
Cherries own legendary player, Steve Fletcher, is set to reinforce his status as a fans favourite this afternoon by leading the line as his team bid for a fourth consecutive League Two win at Northampton Town.
Despite persistent knee problems, Fletcher has made a remarkable number of appearances since rejoining the club from Crawley Town in January.
So far this season, he has featured in all four fixtures, which have been crammed into less than a fortnight. This follows his influential performances in helping Cherries dodge the drop into non-league last term.
The 37-year-old is likely to be called upon regularly in the coming weeks, especially following yesterdays news that Jeff Goulding will be sidelined for about eight weeks after injuring ankle ligaments in training last week.
And the veteran targetman, Cherries record appearance-maker, is up for the challenge.
Discussing the gruelling campaign ahead, he told the Echo: Its been a busy schedule and, in three out of four games, Ive played 90 minutes. Im sure Eddie (Howe) and myself would have liked us to be two or three up with 15 minutes to go, so he could bring me off and I wouldnt have to worry about the last 10 or 15 minutes as much.
But when youre 1-0 up, and I have to go back and defend long throws, corners and free-kicks, and when the opposition have got a couple of big centre-halves, I have to do my duty.
The victories get you through it, as well as the crowd getting behind us. Its difficult, of course it is at 37 years old, but all I can do is take each game as it comes.
Theres no way Im going to say I can do this for 46 games in a season. In a realistic world, no I cant. But I speak to Eddie and Jason (Tindall) two or three days leading up to the game and they ask me how I feel and how I want to prepare for the last few days building up the training.
He added: Im supposed to have two days rest on my knees after a game. I go to the gym but sometimes youve got to be out there on the pitch to see which way were going to play and what our formation and tactics are going to be.
Thankfully Ive got a manager like Ive had in the past who allows me to know my own body and he comes and talks to me. Not just the day of a game, but two or three days leading up to a game and asks me how I would like to prepare and what he would like me to do.
We discuss it between us and its a way of getting the best out of me in training and making sure Im fit for Saturday.
