Quinn keen to keep Rankine

7:00am Friday 17th October 2008

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By Ian Wadley »

MICHAEL Rankine has only been with Cherries for just over a week – but Jimmy Quinn has seen enough to know he would like to retain the forward’s services.

Signed on a one-month loan from Conference outfit Rushden and Diamonds, Rankine was thrown straight into the starting line-up for Cherries’ League Two clash against Rotherham last weekend.

Such was the impressive nature of his performance, Cherries manager Quinn is already thinking about the prospect of trying to extend Rankine’s stay on the south coast.

“Michael’s a good player,” the former Northern Ireland striker told the Daily Echo.

“He just gives something that we perhaps haven’t had.

“He’s a hustler and a bustler and he uses his weight well. He can hold the ball up and also run over the top.

“The lads have taken to him, he’s really enjoying it here and we’ll see what the next month brings, but it would be nice to keep him a bit longer.

“He’s a good lad and what I like about him is he’s got big ears and big eyes, which is what you like in a player because he wants to learn and wants to listen.

“He thinks it’s lovely down here so that’s a big plus in trying to keep him.”

Quinn’s men face another tricky task in the basement division tomorrow, when they visit sixth-placed Shrewsbury, who have conceded just two league goals on home turf this term.

“They’re a good side and it’s going to be a tough game for us,” he admitted.

“But we’re confident at the moment that we can give anybody a game.

“We went to Milton Keynes Dons, who won the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy last season, and not only beat them but played good football as well.

“That’s the important thing for me - that we show people we’re a good footballing side and capable of beating anyone.”

Quinn is expected to receive a warm welcome at Shrewsbury, the club he guided back into the Football League at the first time of asking in 2004, via the Conference play-off final.

He said: “I have tremendous links there and got them promotion at the first hit.

“I’ll never forget the scenes when we won promotion at Stoke City.

“Hopefully I’ll get a good reception, but I don’t know. I’ve had stick everywhere I’ve been so I’m not really bothered.”

Cherries’ left-sided defender Warren Cummings could return to his wing-back role after missing the draw against Rotherham due to tonsillitis.

Sammy Igoe is also expected to be fit after a groin problem, but forward Jeff Goulding is doubtful with the dead leg he suffered in Tuesday’s reserve team match.

Shrewsbury striker Grant Holt, who scored five goals in the team’s recent 7-0 hammering of Wycombe Wanderers, returns from suspension.

• Cherries’ youth team will host Bristol Rovers in the FA Youth Cup first round proper on a date to be confirmed.

Shrewsbury Town: (from) Daniels, Jackson, Coughlan, Hibbert, Symes, Herd, Davies, Tierney, Cansdell-Sherriff, Humphrey, Walker, Langmead, Thornton, McIntyre, Garner, Ashton, Holt, Sigurdsson.

Cherries: (from) Jalal, Pryce, Bradbury, Cummings, Pearce, Cooper, Guyett, Ward, Anderton, Hollands, Bartley, Igoe, Partington, Sturrock, Goulding, Pitman, McQuoid, Lindfield, Rankine.