It's been a difficult few months for Joe Partington. After picking up what seemed a minor set-back in a reserve team friendly in April the Welsh under-21 international had surgery on a hip injury that kept him out for four months.
Forced to sit-out the Cherries play-off campaign Partington saw team-mates Danny Hollands and Anton Robinson move on, leaving a starting spot for the youth team graduate. But having missed pre-season he found himself behind new signings Steven Gregory and Shaun MacDonald as well as the impressive Harry Arter.
Recently introduced back into full training Partington has a new perspective and passion for the game formed by months of recovery and sitting in the stands.
"Five and a half months of being injured and watching games from the stands is hard," he said. "With all the games I've missed I treasure going on and try to make the most of it. You never know what will happen and if you will be out for a while and I've got to remind myself of how much of a pleasure it is to play."
Rewarded by Lee Bradbury in the spring with a two-and-a-half-year contract Partington was quick to thank his manager. "I felt lucky to be involved and I'm grateful to Bradders for putting me on. I will do whatever he, Fletch, Louis Langdown and Steve Hard need me to do so I can play a part and help the team," he said.
Calm and composed on the ball Partington made a seamless return to first-team action in a 35 minute cameo role and the 21-year-old gave an honest assessment of his performance. He said: "I feel fully responsible for the first goal and I should have dealt better with the lad in the corner. I went in for a tackle and he nicked it off me and put a cross in, other than that I felt it was alright."
The popular Cherries star has now set his sights on featuring in the reserves. "We've got a game at home next Tuesday at home to Brighton which should be a good game. It would be nice to get a full 90 minutes. I played 35 minutes and I was absolutely blowing. So, I will play in that game and kick on from there."
Pleased with his own comeback Partington was boosted by the return of fellow long-term absentee Michael Symes. Highly-rated by Partington the former Accrington man put in a lively half-an-hour display. "Symesy was brilliant when he came on. We've done a lot of stuff together and he's so strong. People don't realise how good he is with his feet and I can't wait to see him starting games because I'm sure he can score lots of goals."
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