Playmaker Kian keen to push on

The Cherries reached the halfway stage third in the southern section of the Professional Development League and second in Group C of the Premier League Cup.

And Alan Connell’s team, in their first year playing at a higher level in category two, would go top in both competitions if they were to win their games in hand.  

They open the second half of the season when they meet Bristol City in the Professional Development League at the Robins’ High Performance Centre in Failand on Tuesday (1pm kick-off).

Tydeman experienced mixed fortunes in his first six months with the development squad, the frontman chipping in with goals and assists as well as suffering spells out with injury and sickness.

The Andover-born 18-year-old will be hoping to enjoy an uninterrupted second half to the season and will be looking to build on some impressive displays for Connell’s team.

He told afcb.co.uk: “I think we did really well in the first half of the season.

"To come from category three to category two and be challenging for the league title shows how well we have taken the step up.

“We are also unbeaten in our group in the Premier League Cup and in the quarter-finals of the Hampshire Senior Cup.

“I think togetherness is the perfect word to describe how we are as a team.

"Everyone gets along, both on and off the pitch, and the attitude is spot on. We’ve come a long way but know there is still a long way to go.

“We knew the step up would be tough but I think all of us were ready for it.

"It’s a different kind of experience, especially playing in stadiums. That’s the big difference, especially playing in front of a crowd.

“The quality of the opposition is better, stronger and harder to play against. But, as a team, we have also got a lot stronger and better, which is why we’ve done so well so far this season.

“We’ve had our ups and downs in games. But, at the halfway point, I think we’ve done well and are looking to carry it on and try to get even better in the second half of the season.”

Tydeman enjoyed an excellent start to the season before he suffered a groin injury in early September and was laid low by a bout of food poisoning.

He added: “I hurt my groin against Sheffield Wednesday which was frustrating because I felt I was doing quite well.

“Then, the food poisoning kept me out for about three weeks. I ate something which didn’t agree with me and it made me very poorly.

“I came back against Norwich in the Premier League Cup and then scored a couple of goals in the win against Havant & Waterlooville in the Hampshire Senior Cup.

“I got a couple of assists in our win against Watford and scored in our last game of 2023 when we lost to Ipswich at Vitality Stadium.

“Apart from the injury and sickness, I’ve been pretty pleased with how the season has gone so far and now I’m looking to push on and keep helping the team.”