Pitman returns on loan

Former AFC Bournemouth striker Brett Pitman has returned to Dean Court after the Cherries and Championship side Bristol City agreed a loan move with a view to permanent deal.

Pitman came through the youth ranks at AFC Bournemouth and was a regular goal scorer for the youth side and reserve teams before he made the step up to the first team.

Initially he struggled to break into the team and score on a regular basis, but this changed when Eddie Howe was named as manager in January 2009.

Pitman scored a total of 13 goals during the second half of the 2008/09 season, helping the Cherries avoid relegation out of the Football League despite a seventeen point penalty following administration.

Pitman then went on to have the best season of his career in 2009/10 scoring 28 goals as the Cherries won promotion out of League Two.

In August 2010 he was sold to Bristol City for a reported £800,000, signing a three year contract, his final game for the club coming against Peterborough where he collected the match ball for a 15 minute second half hat-trick.

His two and a half year spell at Championship side Bristol City has been mixed, he's made 81 appearances (including 36 starts) scoring 20 goals, but has only made 3 league appearances so far this season and hasn't scored since March.

In September Pitman was linked with a potential move to Burnley, with then Burnley boss Eddie Howe interested in the striker, whilst AFC Bournemouth chairman Eddie Mitchell revealed that the Cherries also held talks with Bristol City over bringing him back to the south coast but a deal could not be concluded before the transfer window closed.

Pitman has become Eddie Howe's first signing since his own return to Dean Court last month and the striker was paraded on the pitch ahead of the home game with Stevenage on Tuesday night.

Bristol City manager Derek McInnes told bcfc.co.uk...

"This is a good chance to go and get regular match action, which Brett hasn`t enjoyed here at Bristol City recently.

"He`ll relish the chance of a return to Bournemouth and I`m sure he`ll do well for them. I wish him luck with the loan.

"If all goes well then it could lead to something further."

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