Bournemouth manager Scott Parker has revealed that Manchester United loanee Ethan Laird will have to build himself up in training before making his debut.
The 20-year-old joined the Cherries on loan for the remainder of the campaign, earlier this month, after spending the first half of the season at Swansea City.
Since joining the Championship promotion chasers 10 days ago, Laird hasn’t featured in last weekend’s FA Cup win or yesterday’s defeat to Luton Town.
Speaking to the Bournemouth Echo, Parker said that the 3-2 defeat to Luton came “too early” for the United youngster.
Referring to Laird and fellow January signing James Hill, Parker said: “They still need time on the grass and still need time with us.”
Laird hasn’t played for over a month since coming off injured in his last Swansea appearance with a thigh injury, so he will need to prove his fitness in training ahead of his quest to cement himself in the Cherries’ starting line-up.
After losing to Luton, Bournemouth were knocked off the top of the Championship table by Parker’s former side Fulham, and sit level on 49 points with Blackburn Rovers, in second place.
Despite not playing in the Championship for over a month, Laird still sits in the Championship’s top six most frequent dribblers.
Bournemouth next play Hull City on Saturday and Laird will be eager to prove his fitness for that match and face off against his Manchester United academy teammate Di’Shon Bernard.
But Laird will have to oust Cherries full-back Jack Stacey who has started the last 15 Championship games at right-back.
United’s young attack-minded, marauding full-back may have to be patient to get his chance, but when he does he will likely make the Cherries fans, who have already shown how elated they are in signing the youngster, be demanding the club extend his stay at the Vitality Stadium, which could potentially be back in the Premier League next season.
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