Cherries: Malone out to prove he is the best on the left (From Thisisdorset)

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Cherries: Malone out to prove he is the best on the left

7:00am Tuesday 7th February 2012 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Ian Wadley

COMEBACK: Scott Malone

SCOTT Malone admits he must quickly recapture his form to fend off increasing competition on Cherries’ left flank – and avoid criticism for slipping standards.

The exciting winger is determined to pick up where he left off when he makes his return from almost two months on the sidelines.

Malone established himself as a key man for Cherries prior to sustaining a hamstring problem at Huddersfield on December 10.

The former Wolves man, who made his loan move permanent during the January transfer window, has scored three goals and provided five assists in 21 starts for the Dorset club.

He is facing a battle to reclaim his tag as the club’s leading left-sided star after boss Lee Bradbury made a deadline-day swoop for Donal McDermott, with the new recruit joining Malone, Marc Pugh and Wes Fogden as contenders for Cherries’ positions on the flanks.

But fit-again Malone will be hoping to get the nod in tonight’s rearranged home clash against Exeter City (7.45pm).

When asked if he felt like he would have to start afresh following his injury and McDermott’s arrival, Malone told the Daily Echo: “No, I don’t think so. I think the gaffer and the players know what I am about.

“It is just a case of doing what I was doing. If I come back and don’t perform as I was, then everyone will say ‘Is he fit?’ or ‘What is wrong with him?’ “I have set the standards for myself now so if I slip below that, then I am bound to come in for a bit of criticism.”

Malone continued: “There are four or five players that can play in the two positions, so I think you have got to perform day in, day out.

“If the gaffer doesn’t put me back in tonight, then I will work hard for the rest of the week.”

Malone, who started at Wolves aged 10, has ambitions to climb back up the divisions – with the Championship next stop on his ideal career path.

He added: “We have got a lot of young lads that want to push for Championship level and, hopefully, with the squad we have got, we can do that with Bournemouth.

“I think we have got one of the best squads in the league so, if we don’t finish in the top eight, I think it would go down as a bit of a bad season.

“Everyone is looking for that sixth spot and we have got a very hard month in March. We have got Charlton at home, Stevenage away and Sheffield Wednesday away, so I think we need to be sixth or seventh at the start of March to give ourselves the best opportunity of getting in the play-offs.

“I want to kick my career on and play in the Championship and then the Premier League, so it is important to play well now for Bournemouth so, hopefully, I can get to a higher level.”

Comments(23)

Pandasfromhell says...
9:09am Tue 7 Feb 12

**** ! With all the signings last week i wont be able to get in tonight - TUBBS 4 England -come on *BRADDERS lol* ---- get those * early super buy wont last 4ever season tickets out NOW Mr Mitchell .Please please put them on sale on a Sunday so we can all get a fair shot at buying them at a weekend --- UP THE CHERRIES