Cherries “ready to go” according to boss Parker

AFC Bournemouth boss Scott Parker has given a team update ahead of the visit of Sheffield United on Saturday. in the EFL Championship.

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Scott Parker revealed there are no new injury concerns ahead of the clash with Sheffield United just “some tired bodies” after the midweek game with Peterborough.

Long-term absentees Junior Stanislas and Lewis Cook remain side-lined and will miss the game against the Blades on Saturday afternoon, but Parker is confident his team is ready for the Yorkshire club.

 “There are no injury concerns, everyone has come through Wednesday night, some tired bodies but we have prepared well and recouped and are ready to go for tomorrow now,” he said.

The Cherries boss knows this will be a tough test for his side having played under Blades boss Slavisa Jokanovic during his playing days at Fulham.

“I realise the challenge, I realise the battle we are going to face and what his team are going to bring it is going to be a tough day,” he explained.

“He has a clear way, probably similar in certain aspects, he wants to dominate the game with the ball, a technical game.

“He has a team here, which has just been relegated from the Premier League and a group of players that have been in and around the Premier League for some time –  so there is quality there.

“I know his qualities as well – we are going to need to be right at our game tomorrow – it is going to be a tough game for us.”

With an almost full squad at his disposal, Parker now has the luxury of resting players knowing that the quality he brings in can maintain the high standards the team has already set so far this season.

“We have a group of players here that give us the ability to freshen things up when we need to,” he said.

“If you want to go and be in a position that we want to be in this year and where we want to be in the league table, you are going to have to use your squad.”

He added: “I trust the squad and the players I have at my disposal.”

 Parker is remaining grounded though, despite the club's strong start to the season and feels there is more to come from his young squad which is only a good thing in his eyes.

He continued: “The mood in the camp is very good as you would expect.

“There are also elements where we know we want to get better, and we want to keep improving and I think that is healthy and that is also a very good sign.”

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