Tubbs: I've got a lot to prove

AFC Bournemouth striker Matt Tubbs feels that he has a lot to prove to the Dean Court faithful this season.

Tubbs re-joined AFC Bournemouth for a fourth spell in January, having previously come through the centre of excellence set-up at the club before joining Bolton as a youngster.

He then re-joined the club on a non contract basis under then manager Sean O'Driscoll in 2003, before returning on loan from Salisbury in 2008 under then manager Jimmy Quinn.

It had been thought he might sign for the club permanently in 2009, but once Quinn was sacked, any proposed transfer was cancelled.

Tubbs went on to eventually leave Salisbury in August 2010 after scoring 46 goals in 121 appearances for the non league side, joining ambitious non league outfit Crawley Town, he helped the side to win promotion to the Football League for the first time in 2011 and in total he made 78 appearances for Crawley scoring 58 goals before agreeing to make another move to Dean Court earlier this year.

The Verwood based forward signed a three and a half year deal with the Cherries, but after scoring on his debut, he featured just six more times before he was forced to sit out the remainder of the season following surgery on a groin problem.

He returned to action last (Wednesday) evening during the Cherries first pre-season game against New Milton and Tubbs scored a first half hat-trick in an impressive 13-0 victory.

Tubbs told BBC Radio Solent...

'I feel I've got a lot to prove as I've had a couple of spells here at Bournemouth before that haven't worked out, Now I'm 100% fit I want to grab this opportunity while I can...'

'...It's been so frustrating for me because my last game was Sheffield Wednesday away so to make my competitive return is fantastic for me,

'I've come back quite fit. I had a couple of months off towards the end of the season so I used that as my summer really.

'And then in the off-season I kept myself ticking over and kept myself fit. I had a week off with the missus and then came back and worked hard.'

RednBlack Shack

Don't forget to keep checking the RednBlack Shack for great online deals and help to raise money for the AFC Bournemouth Youth Team.

It's easy to join AFCB Vital

With Vital Bournemouth you can win prizes just by having your say on the articles, polls and forums, click the link to register.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.