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First Team

Team news: West Brom latest

The latest team news from Vitality Stadium as the Cherries get set to start their league season on Friday night.

West Brom are the first opponents for Scott Parker and his side, with the sold-out match to be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

A late call will be made on Jack Stacey who needed to be substituted in last weekend's Carabao Cup win over MK Dons, while fellow full-back Leif Davis is closing in on fitness but isn't expected to be involved in the opener.

Chris Mepham is available for selection after serving his one-game suspension, though Jefferson Lerma still has five matches of his own to serve.

In midfield, Ben Pearson is expected to return to training in the coming days following illness. 

Arnaut Danjuma and Steve Cook are progressing well in their returns from injury, both now back on the grass.

There could be opportunities for a number of Cherries Academy graduates, with head coach Scott Parker speaking about the positive impression that has been made on him by the players.

"The youngsters have come in and done very well and of course that always gives you options," he said in his pre-match press conference.

"We are a little bit stretched because of the dynamics of the squad at the moment and you'll have seen that over the course of pre-season.

"We'd like to try and adjust that over the coming weeks, we are where we are as a squad and I believe that this squad over the last six weeks has prepared in the right way.

"In terms of the work they've done, tactically and physically, they're in a good place so I'm looking forward to seeing that in action now."