Cherries: Bradders happy to be a flexible friend (From Thisisdorset)

Cherries: Bradders happy to be a flexible friend

7:00am Wednesday 8th July 2009 in

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MODEL pro Lee Bradbury is up for the challenge of resuming his role at right-back – but he will have to wait for his first taste of pre-season action.

The veteran utility man, a forward by trade, has shown himself to be a key member of Eddie Howe’s squad, with his versatility coming in particularly useful given the lack of numbers at the manager’s disposal.

With Shaun Cooper ruled out for up to six months after hip surgery, loanee Joel Ward back with parent club Portsmouth and Cherries still operating under a transfer embargo, Bradbury is the obvious choice to again fill-in on the right side of defence.

But the former Manchester City and Pompey man will not get the chance to press his claims in Cherries’ opening pre-season friendly against Poole Town at Tatnam tonight (7pm).

He sustained a knock to his right knee in training on Monday, which will keep him out of the match.

However, looking ahead to the League Two season, Bradbury reaffirmed his willingness to do a job in whatever position he is required.

He told the Echo: “I enjoy playing at right-back.

“I’ve said to Eddie I’m happy to play anywhere because I just want to be playing games, whether it’s up front, right-back, midfield or wherever it may be.”

The 34-year-old has shown some of his younger team-mates how it’s done during the pre-season fitness testing, with his 99 per cent result in a lung function test described as “phenomenal” when the players were put through their paces at Southampton Solent University last week.

“I did all right in a few of the tests but it’s difficult,” said the modest Bradbury.

“There were some good tests and it gives the lads a benchmark and something to work towards as I think we’re going back a couple of times to see how we’re getting on during the season. That can only be good for the boys as well.”

Cherries boss Howe could take a closer look at trialists Davide Grassi (centre-back) and Andre Costa (winger) in tonight’s match.

Striker Lewis Smith, who Cherries hope to sign when their embargo is lifted, could also feature.

Howe confirmed that he intends to use each player for a maximum of 45 minutes, with the manager also set to hand some of the club’s youth team an opportunity to impress.

He said: “It’s still very early days for us and we’ve trained very hard this week and we’ll be training in the morning, so the lads will be a little bit tired.

“We’ll limit everybody to 45 minutes and involve a few youth lads to get them used to games like this. At this stage it’s purely fitness I’m looking at.”

The match comes too early for recovering trio Alan Connell, Scott Guyett and Marvin Bartley.