CHERRIES: BRADDERS IS MORE THAN ALL RIGHT (From Thisisdorset)

CHERRIES: BRADDERS IS MORE THAN ALL RIGHT

7:00am Wednesday 1st July 2009

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CHERRIES manager Eddie Howe has voiced his concerns about the team’s problem position – but he has backed born-again Lee Bradbury to continue at right-back.

With Cherries set to begin pre-season training tomorrow, boss Howe will see a lack of natural right-sided defenders when his players return from their summer holidays.

Captain Shaun Cooper faces up to six months on the sidelines after undergoing hip surgery last week and a possible stand-in, loan man Joel Ward, is back with his parent club Portsmouth.

These absentees – and the club’s transfer embargo – leave Howe with a dearth of right-backs and little room for manoeuvre.

But former Manchester City star Bradbury, a forward by trade, has shown himself to be capable of filling in and he has his manager’s full support.

Howe, who held his first meeting with new chairman Eddie Mitchell yesterday, told the Echo: “We’ve had a problem at right-back really since Youngy (Neil Young) retired.

“But Bradders has done a great job there for us and I’d have no hesitation putting him in there again.

“We haven’t got a natural right-back but Bradders has done the job long enough now.

“He knows the position and has never, ever let us down in there. It’s a great credit to him that he’s managed to transform himself from a centre forward to a right-back.

“He’s never moaned – I know he’d prefer to play up front – but he’s just got on with it and been a model professional.

“Bradders brings a great deal of experience no matter what position he is playing in and he never gets flustered.

“The defensive positions he takes up are very good and he reads the game ever so well.

“His distribution is good also and he was outstanding in the last two games he played there last season.

“The problem would be if we got an injury to Bradders because we’d have no one to go in there.”

Howe revealed that he has not given up hope of bringing loanees Ward and Rhoys Wiggins back to Dean Court, while he has also offered terms to striker Lewis Smith, who was on trial with Cherries last season.

But these potential deals – and any other moves he may wish to make in the market – will stay on hold while the club’s transfer embargo remains in place.

Meanwhile, Howe confirmed former Swindon Town striker Barry Corr will not be joining Cherries on trial during pre-season.

n Visit the Echo website today to watch our video with Steve Fletcher as the Cherries legend prepares for pre-season with a workout in the gym.

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