Cherries chairman Eddie Mitchell has described as “a major coup” the acquisition of former England goalkeeper David James.

James, who linked up with Paul Groves’s squad for training yesterday, is today expected to sign a deal with the club initially until the end of the season.

The 42-year-old was recommended to Cherries by Harry Redknapp and could be in contention for a place in the squad against League One rivals Walsall tomorrow.

Cherries, who could be without Darryl Flahavan for the rest of the season, have turned to James to provide competition for current number one Shwan Jalal .

Speaking to the Daily Echo last night, Mitchell confirmed Cherries had agreed personal terms with James, the deal including the provision for a possible extension.

Mitchell added: “His arrival will give everybody a big boost. He is a good character and a great person to have in the squad and the changing room so we can’t go wrong. We think very highly of Shwan but this is going to spur him on.”

Asked whether James could be in contention to face the Saddlers, Mitchell replied: “He is not too keen to start because he feels he would have liked a few more days to get back into it. But he will definitely be either on the bench or playing and, all being well, will be available to start on Tuesday (at Crawley).”

James, who was capped 53 times by England, yesterday took to social networking site Twitter to confirm his imminent arrival when he posted: “Just finished my first day’s training with AFC Bournemouth. Delighted to be joining them. Thank you to #ecfc for their help. Game on!”

Based in Devon, the former Watford, Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham, Manchester City, Portsmouth and Bristol City stopper trained with League Two outfit Exeter City last month.

In a career spanning 24 years, James has made more than 750 appearances, including 550 in the Premier League. He also holds the record for the most clean sheets in the top flight with 173.

He won the last of his England caps in the 2010 World Cup quarter-final defeat to Germany before Joe Hart replaced him as the country’s number one.

James, whose son was on Cherries’ books a couple of years ago, became the oldest World Cup debutant when he lined up in South Africa aged 39.

He was awarded an MBE in the 2012 Birthday Honours for services to football and charity.