Cherries: Double incentive for Goulding

JEFF Goulding is determined to prove his worth after admitting he feared for his Cherries dream during his injury nightmare. The promising forward is finally nearing full fitness after a lengthy lay-off with ankle ligament damage in August. And Goulding has revealed two of the major incentives which have driven his recovery the chance of becoming a replacement for Cherries legend Steve Fletcher and the battle to earn a new Dean Court contract. When asked if he was worried about his Cherries career while sidelined, he admitted: You do think of that every now and then but, at the minute, Ive just been focusing on getting fit and the rest will take care of itself hopefully. But you are always a little bit worried that if you dont come back then you never know whats around the corner. Its a big eight months for me. A lot is happening and I want to be playing and prove to everyone that Im worthy of another deal and hopefully that will happen. Injury has restricted the talented frontman to just three appearances this term. But having come through some reserve outings, the 25-year-old is keen to get back into the first-team reckoning. Im feeling a lot nearer full fitness, he said. The two reserve games I played in went pretty well and I got through both of the 90 minutes, which was pleasing. Goulding, who signed a new one-year contract during the summer, is a possible long-term replacement for Fletcher. Having spent recent months bulking-up, he appears to have the necessary attributes to lead the line in the future. Goulding added: Ive been working on my game with Eddie and Jason and hopefully, long term, I can do that. The big man just keeps going and going and hes doing brilliantly for us at the minute, which is good. But there will be a time this season where Fletch will probably pick up an injury or miss a game and you need someone else to come in. Hopefully Ill be able to do a good job and cement a place.

Source: Bournemouth_Echo