7:00am Wednesday 29th July 2009
By Ian Wadley
CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe is set to call his assistant Jason Tindall out of retirement yet again as a "last resort" to bolster his squad.
Tindall has been included on the club's official player list with a squad number of 31 as Howe takes out an insurance policy against any possible further injury setbacks.
With key player Shaun Cooper ruled out due to a long-term injury and loan defenders Joel Ward and Rhoys Wiggins having long left Dean Court, Tindall is readying himself for action, if required, once the League Two campaign gets under way next month.
Manager Howe is still unable to recruit new players because of the club's ongoing transfer embargo and it appears increasingly unlikely that the embargo will be relaxed ahead of the season curtain-raiser at Bury on August 8.
The situation could force veteran Tindall, who came out of retirement in the victory over Dagenham and Redbridge last season, to dust off his boots.
"I spoke to Jason a couple of days ago and said he'd have to up his training and I'm almost treating him as a full-time player because we're so thin on the ground, especially with defenders," admitted Howe.
"Rhoys Wiggins and Joel Ward have gone and it's left us with four defenders on the books, so Jason is going to have to be prepared.
"It's not ideal and it's the last thing I wanted to do, but you have to prepare for every eventuality. A couple of injuries and there will be no one else and he is the next in line.
"It's far from ideal but we've got to be prepared."
Howe, who joked that it might take two months - rather than just two weeks - to get Tindall ready for action, is grateful to the former Weymouth boss for reluctantly making himself available.
"He doesn't want to do it and I don't want him to do it, but needs must," said the Cherries boss.
"Fair play to him for doing it for me because he's putting his reputation on the line when he goes on the pitch and I can only thank him for that."
Jason Pearce and Ryan Garry established themselves as Howe's preferred central defensive pairing last term, but further options are limited.
Cooper is sidelined, Scott Guyett (shoulder) is yet to play in pre-season and Joe Partington is still learning the position.
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