FORGOTTEN man Josh McQuoid is determined to help Cherries cut it in the Championship as he bids to banish his injury woes by making up for lost time.

The home-grown forward has hit the comeback trail after being plagued by knee and thigh problems since pre-season.

McQuoid, a product of the Cherries youth ranks, scored three goals in 34 league appearances last term after he had rejoined the Dorset outfit from Millwall in May 2012.

However, the 23-year-old saw his chance of starting the second tier campaign in August ruined by a series of setbacks which forced him to undergo knee surgery and get specialist thigh treatment in Rome.

McQuoid is steadily stepping up his workload with a view to a first-team return and he is keen to play his part as Cherries adjust to life at the higher level.

The Northern Ireland international told the Daily Echo: “I am just getting back into training.

“For the past week-and-a-half, it has been fine so, hopefully, I can carry that on, work on my fitness and take it from there.

“In the long-term, my aim is to get as fit as possible, try to get back in the team, get my first appearance for the club in the Championship and do all I can to play my part.”

McQuoid continued: “It has been frustrating because you want to be out there doing what you can and helping the team. But watching as a fan, it has been very good with some good football.

“I don’t think we can expect too much, having jumped up a league, to happen that quickly but we are making progress and moving forward well.”

McQuoid, who also had a loan spell at Burnley under boss Eddie Howe during his brief time away from Dean Court, has been taken aback by Cherries’ rapid rise, particularly as he was involved during the dark days of administration and fighting for Football League survival.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow's home clash with Brighton (12.15pm), he said: “It is credit to the manager, all the people upstairs and all the players.

“We deserve it but we just have to make sure we can stay at this level and prove we are good enough, which I think we can.”

Giving an insight into his injury problems, the versatile winger/striker added: “In pre-season, I had knee surgery. I came back for four or five weeks in training and felt like I was just getting back to full fitness and then pulled my quad (thigh). I came back for a day after that and then pulled my quad again.

“I went to Rome and got it sorted out there and now I am into my second week of training, which is good.”