CHERRIES star Junior Stanislas insisted he was champing at the bit for a recall following his rapid return from injury.

Stanislas had been expected to be sidelined well into January but hit the comeback trail as a second-half substitute at Chelsea on Boxing Day.

The 27-year-old winger, a key performer for Cherries this season, came on for the final 24 minutes at Stamford Bridge having missed the past three games with an ankle injury.

Stanislas, who has netted three times this season, said he would be ready if called upon to start Cherries’ Premier League showdown at Swansea on New Year’s Eve.

Asked by the Daily Echo whether he felt fit enough to start at the Liberty Stadium, Stanislas said: “I think so. At Chelsea, I felt sharp when I came on.

“I have to take it step by step so, hopefully, the next step is to start a game and help the team move forward.

“It was frustrating to miss a few weeks, but I’m glad to be back ahead of schedule. We thought it was going to be a bit longer. The fitness team have been great and it was good to be back out there.”

Stanislas had been in a rich vein of form before he was struck down by injury – adding three assists to his goal tally – and had also cultivated a reputation as a dead-ball specialist.

Accordingly, while he was keen to turn his focus forwards, the former West Ham man confessed the timing of his lay-off was particularly inopportune.

“It seems like every time I get back and get going, I encounter a little setback so it’s frustrating,” said Stanislas.

“Hopefully now the injuries are behind me and I can get my head down, get back in the side and start contributing again.

“It was just great to be back out on the pitch. Chelsea are a top side. It was always going to be difficult but it was good to get some touches of the ball.”

Stanislas is now determined to persuade Howe to include him at Swansea who, by contrast to the rampant Chelsea team Cherries encountered on their last outing, are enduring a rotten season.

The Welsh club's 4-1 defeat by West Ham on Boxing Day was their third reverse on the trot.

They have shipped a league high 41 goals and American boss Bob Bradley is clinging to his post 11 games into his reign.

But, if picked, Stanislas would not enter the contest with any ideas about it being an easy assignment.

“I have to get my head down in training and hopefully give the manager a selection dilemma,” he added.

“Then, once I’m back in, hopefully I can repay him with some goals and assists.

“I don’t really consider Swansea’s form. We focus on ourselves and they might say the same about us (this is a winnable game) after our result at Chelsea.

“We’ll put together a plan in training, then go there, work hard and try to execute that plan.”