BOSS Paul Groves is hoping Josh McQuoid’s return to Dean Court will pep up Cherries’ firepower options.

The 22-year-old has been drafted in as part of a player-plus-cash deal that saw Scott Malone move in the opposite direction to Millwall.

A product of the Cherries youth ranks, McQuoid is Groves’s first signing and will be looking to rediscover his form following 18 months away.

Groves told the Daily Echo: “We felt it was a good deal for us because we wanted to get more goals into the team. The swap deal gave us an opportunity to do that and we are delighted.

“When you look at the squad and the dynamics of it, you look at every area you can improve. We felt Scott played in an area that had good competition and felt bringing in Josh would enhance us in a different area. It will enable us to change things and manoeuvre.

“There has been no falling out with Scott and he is going to a Championship club. We are bringing in a player who scores goals and a player who will give us competition for places in wide areas and in forward positions because he is versatile.

“It enables us to change the dynamics of the group and enables us to bring in someone who is familiar with the club. Josh is also an international and we felt it was a good deal all round.”

McQuoid left Dean Court for Millwall in a £515,000 deal in January 2011 after initially moving to the Den on loan. He was snapped up by the Lions following an explosive 14-week spell that saw him plunder 12 goals in just 16 starts for Cherries and earn his first full cap for Northern Ireland.

However, he saw his chances limited with the south London outfit and reunited at Burnley with former Cherries boss Eddie Howe for a loan spell at the end of last season.

Groves added: “There are plenty of cases of where players have gone back to a club and done very well. He is young and hungry and he wants to come and play.

“He knows the surroundings and he knows one or two in the group so I think that will help. There are a lot of pluses when it comes to Josh coming back here.

“Some players are happy to sit on the bench and wait for their chance and others just want to play. Josh is one of those who wants to play and is hungry to do well.

“He feels he is coming to a club that is showing ambition and one which wants to try to reach the next level. He will add to our squad because he has experienced the level above.

“Josh will give us striking options but also wide options and his versatility is going to be important. We have worked with two shapes and will be able to change things with Josh. He brings energy and a certain degree of quality and will add to the squad in lots of different ways.”