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First Team

Injury News: Tavernier and Zabarnyi available

Gary O'Neil has delivered his latest team news ahead of the weekend's game against Fulham. 

Marco Silva's side visit Vitality Stadium for a 3pm kick-off on Saturday afternoon, with the October's reverse fixture ending in a 2-2 draw. 

The Cherries head coach delivered some positive news in his pre-match press conference, revealing that Illia Zabarynyi and Marcus Tavernier were back available for the fixture. 

"Illia was around over the break, so it was good to get him up to speed and we had a good two week block with him.

"Marcus is back fit too. Hamed Traorè played some minutes in the international break, but had a bit of illness. He didn't start the second game for Ivory Coast, but he's doing okay. 

"The rest of the boys that were away came back fit, so there's no injuries there and that's the most important thing for me over an international break. We don't want to lose anyone." 

"There are slight complications on how much some of the players can play, but they are fit and available which is great." 

O'Neil went on to discuss the progress of David Brooks, who scored a hat-trick in the Hampshire Senior Cup against Portsmouth over the international break. 

"Brooksy came through the development squad game fine, well better than fine! He's fine physically and everyone at the club knows the quality that he has. 

"Prior to the tough period he went through, he showed some fantastic form that season when he used as a number ten, but he also creates problems wide.

"I actually didn't want him to score too many for the development squad because of the noise of how quickly we could get him in!

"He had a good two weeks and trained well, so to have him available for the next 11 weeks is great for everyone around the place and for himself."