CHERRIES striker Josh McQuoid is keen to make up for lost time as he bids to erase the memory of a season which “passed me by”.

McQuoid was restricted to just one appearance during Cherries’ Championship campaign before he dropped into League One for a loan spell at Peterborough.

And although he scored at Wembley to help Posh lift the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy in March, it was a rare highlight during a largely indifferent stay at London Road.

McQuoid, who featured in Cherries’ 1-1 draw with Ipswich in December, netted once during 14 league games for Posh, his tally including just eight starts.

The 24-year-old frontman, capped five times by Northern Ireland, endured a miserable start to the season after sustaining a serious knee during the summer.

McQuoid, who has featured in Cherries’ warm-up games against FC Copenhagen and Eastleigh, is hoping for better fortunes as he looks to play his way back into contention.

He told the Daily Echo: “I just want to get as many minutes as I can, do as well as I can and get as fit as I can. I had a couple of injuries last year which held me back as the season went on. It passed me by which was disappointing from my point of view.

“My priorities this year are to come through fit and injury-free and to do what I can to get in the manager’s eye. We have brought in some good players and there is a lot of quality here so I want to do everything I can to give myself the best chance.

“It is definitely a hard team to get into but everyone has to try to claim their place during pre-season. Everyone will be fighting for a spot so it will be tough. Nobody is guaranteed a place which is a good thing because it shows everyone is challenging.”

McQuoid, who made 39 appearances during Cherries’ League One promotion campaign, was linked with a loan move to Coventry when team-mates Ryan Allsop and Mohamed Coulibaly joined the Sky Blues as part of the Callum Wilson deal.

Asked about the speculation, McQuoid said: “I am just going to do what I can during pre-season and, in terms of playing, we will see what happens. I am not going to say I am going to be playing here because you never know and I can’t predict the future. If it comes to the beginning of the season and the manager wants to keep me and use me then I will be here.”