ASSISTANT-manager Jason Tindall has backed midfielder Shaun MacDonald to bounce back from his latest injury hard-luck story.

The Wales international enjoyed a fruitful pre-season and harboured hopes of filling the void left by crocked star Harry Arter when Cherries kicked off their Premier League campaign.

However, MacDonald was beset by a minor toe setback which prevented him participating in the club's first two top-flight outings.

Manager Eddie Howe revealed the 27-year-old had returned to training prior to Saturday's victory at West Ham with Tindall confirming he had felt no ill effects since and that the ex-Swansea man was fit to feature in tonight's League Cup round two trip to Hartlepool United (7.45pm).

Tindall told the Daily Echo: "Shaun MacDonald has trained for the past four or five days and is in the squad to go to Hartlepool.

"He was certainly unlucky going into the Premier League campaign. He had a fantastic pre-season, performed extremely well in the games and was very disappointed to pick the injury when he did.

"But as we know, that's football. We cannot do anything about it but with Macca now looking as good as he always does in training, I am sure, if selected, he will go out there and deliver a good performance in the way he always does for us."

Tindall added: "There were no new injuries of any concern from the West Ham game so touch wood, that remains the same."