Howe: McDermott has got real ability

AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has praised midfielder Donal McDermott following his return to the first team.

The Cherries midfielder has struggled with off the field problems since his return to the south coast from Huddersfield in January.

In March 2012 he was arrested for drink driving and was fined by the club.

Within weeks he then missed the first team coach to an away game which again resulted in a disciplinary by AFC Bournemouth.

In April 2012 he was found guilty of drink driving, was banned from driving and fined by the court after McDermott admitted to previously having problems with alcohol.

This season under former manager Paul Groves he featured for just 45 minutes of League One football after being substituted at half time of the 4-0 away defeat to Swindon.

But since the return of Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall as the clubs management team, McDermott has returned to the first team fold.

He featured in the Cherries 6-0 win over Winchester in the Hampshire Senior Cup, with McDermott scoring two goals, before he made a late substitute appearance in the 3-1 win over Tranmere before starting against Notts County in midweek.

Howe told the Daily Echo...

"...He has got real ability. It was his first game in a long time, hence why we took him off. His fitness levels aren`t quite where he would probably want them to be at this moment.

"But he has certainly got ability and it is a case of if he can produce that creativity on a regular basis and can he show us the right attitude every day in training to warrant a place in the squad. They are demands I place on every squad member, regardless of who they are, but that is Donal`s battle in particular."

"The responsibility is always with the player to come to work ready to train. I have to say, since we came through the door, Donal has been a pleasure to work with and I have had no issues with him. And while he warrants a place, we will certainly pick him...'

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