FORGOTTEN man Mohamed Coulibaly has vowed to fight for a future at Cherries having gained momentum in his battle for match fitness.

The 26-year-old winger, a free signing from Swiss side Grasshoppers Zurich in July 2013, has endured an ill-fated season after prematurely ending his loan spell at League One Coventry City.

Coulibaly, whose contract expires in the summer, cited Sky Blues boss Steven Pressley’s change of tactics as the reason behind the early exit and revealed he had suffered a groin injury on his return to Cherries.

The French-Senegalese winger resumed full training with the development squad at the start of this month and played 45 minutes for Stephen Purches’s side against AFC Wimbledon before a 70-minute appearance against Horndean in the Hampshire Senior Cup on Tuesday.

And the wideman, who last played competitively for the first team nine months ago, insists his desire for a fresh Dean Court deal remains undiminished.

Coulibaly told the Daily Echo: “I have missed a lot of time and the team has done very well. It is not easy but I will keep trying to get back to my best.

“You never know in football, things can change very quickly. I have to try and show the manager what I can do again and see what happens.

“Everyone wants to stay here, it is a very good club and the team is top of the table. I know I must get back to my best but if I do then anything is possible.

“I have to take it step-by-step. I am playing with the development squad to get fitness and feel like I am getting better all the time. We will see what happens in the next few weeks.”

On his temporary spell at Coventry, Coulibaly added: “The manager needed a wideman and liked my profile but I got injured in pre-season and when I came back the formation had changed.

“He (Pressley) decided to go with 5-3-2 without wingers so it became difficult. They tried to play me in central midfield but after two or three games it was not the same.

“I found it hard and it was not working so I decided to come back here.”