Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Bartley happy to help at the back
MARVIN Bartley is prepared to continue his emergency defensive duties as Cherries search for a solution during Jason Pearce's lay-off. The Dean Court captain faces a minimum of three weeks on the sidelines because of a fractured toe. Boss Eddie Howe, though, is extremely short of central defensive cover with Shaun Cooper, Joe Partington and Scott Guyett also on the casualty list. But midfielder Bartley stepped in with a solid performance during Saturday's victory over Morecambe and he is ready to continue at the back if called upon. The former non-league star said: I just want to play so, whether it's at centre-back or in centre midfield, I've just got to do a job for the team. I prefer to play in central midfield but, while we're short on numbers, I don't mind going at centre-back. Bartley, who last played regularly in defence for Reading's centre of excellence at the age of 14, added: Jason helps me and tells me a few things I need to be aware of when I'm back there and it helped on Saturday. Having Ryan Garry alongside me as well was good. Meanwhile, just a week after being rushed to Shrewsbury to answer a first team SOS, schoolboy striker Jayden Stockley was back in Cherries' under-16s line-up. The striker fired a hat-trick in a 4-1 victory over Plymouth Argyle at Chapel Gate.