THE HEAT'S ON WARREN (From Bournemouth Echo)

THE HEAT'S ON WARREN

7:00am Friday 10th July 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(1)

HARD taskmaster Eddie Howe has promised to be tough on Warren Cummings in a bid to get the Cherries star back to the height of his powers.

The long-serving left-back penned a new one-year deal with the club on Tuesday – taking a “sizeable” pay cut and declining other offers to remain at Dean Court.

And Howe, who was quick to express his delight at the defender’s decision to stay, is hopeful of returning Cummings to his top form.

The Cherries boss said: “If Warren gets back to his best he could be absolutely massive for us next season – and I’ve told him that.

“I’m going to be hard on him and I think I have been hard on him already behind the scenes.

“I know what he’s capable of and between us I’d like to think we could get him back there.

“He did well really when he came in for a spell towards the end of last season and he looked like he was really getting his fitness back and bombing up and down the line.

“I’m going to be looking for more of the same next season but hopefully on a more consistent basis.”

With Crystal Palace prospect Rhoys Wiggins no longer with Cherries following the end of his impressive loan spell, Cummings’s importance to the team is now even bigger.

“I know what’s in there and I know his capabilities,” said Howe.

“I don’t think there’s a better attacking left-back when he’s in full flight.

“We need to really work on his fitness through pre-season, which we are already.

“His attitude’s been spot on since he’s come back and I think he’s shown a little bit of renewed enthusiasm for the game.

“And I’m hoping he can really push on this season and be a major player for us.”

Howe also praised the 28-year-old’s loyalty, adding: “I know he was speaking to other clubs and I know he had offers from other clubs.

“The fact he’s taken quite a considerable pay cut to stay shows his loyalty to the cause and shows his determination to play for Bournemouth and be successful at Bournemouth.”

Howe has now retained all of the club’s out-of-contract players, a group which also included Ryan Pryce, Ryan Garry, Joe Partington, Josh McQuoid and Jeff Goulding.