Pre season is over and the Cherries squad this week can start thinking about the real thing - a trip to Bury on Saturday, a game that every one is looking forward to.

Preparation has been good and Eddie is generally pleased how pre season went; "I think we have performed well in the pre season games, especially against the two Premier League sides.  I thought we competed really well against them.  Last Saturday was the hardest game we've had and on that performance, I think Charlton will be right up there in League 1."

Howe was dealt another blow before the trip to Bury when Jeff Goulding lasted just seven minutes against Charlton, but he will wait and see on his fitness; "We lost Jeff to a dead leg and I don't know how long he'll be out for and if he isn't fit, it will leave us short up front which is a bit of a worry.  Any injuries we pick up now will hurt us because it is a small squad.  Alan Connell has started training, but he is a long way behind in terms of match fitness."

The Cherries boss is expecting a hard start to the season and agrees that there are few places tougher that Bury to visit on the opening day; "We are coming in to the important stuff now and I think we're well prepared and I am hopeful that we will give a really good account of ourselves starting at Bury.  It will be a tough game, probably one of the hardest we'll face this season and we need to be focused and ready."