SEASONED campaigner Sammy Igoe admits helping Cherries in their bid to avoid relegation into non-league is one of the biggest challenges he has faced during his long career.

The veteran midfielder, who has recovered from injury in time to face Bradford City tomorrow (3pm), believes the magnitude of the task facing his new club is something for the players to "relish" rather than worry about.

Igoe, who joined Cherries in the summer after leaving Bristol Rovers, said: "Seventeen points is a massive amount to make up and it's a challenge.

"We haven't started particularly great but it just means all the games are big games.

"As a professional footballer you want to play in big games, you don't want to play in boring middle of the road games.

"It's a challenge but something, as a professional footballer, you relish."

Despite troubled Cherries, who are firmly rooted in the relegation zone, starting as big outsiders for tomorrow's clash against League Two pacesetters Bradford City, Igoe has every reason to be confident.

The Fareham-based former Portsmouth and Bristol Rovers playmaker has plenty of good memories to look back on from his previous visits to Valley Parade.

The midfield schemer, who netted at the stadium in a Pompey victory 10 years ago, said: "I've played there a few times and don't want to tempt fate but it's a good ground for me.

"A lot of players will say they have bogey grounds and grounds they play well at or have always won at, and fortunately for me I've always won there. Hopefully it will continue."

Igoe is fit and raring to go for the trip to West Yorkshire after turning out for Cherries' reserves in Tuesday's defeat at the hands of Salisbury City.

He said: "I was almost fit last Saturday and it's hard sitting in the stands watching games, but I'm over my injury and hopefully looking to try to get in the team tomorrow.

"It was hard to watch the game against Macclesfield, I've never been a very good watcher of any football, but I'm fit now and hoping to get into the side."

Big central defender Scott Guyett is battling for a place in the starting XI after successfully coming through Tuesday's reserve team match.

Darren Anderton and Warren Cummings are suffering from colds but both are expected to be fit in time to feature.

Despite a number of players carrying knocks, only long-term injury victims Ryan Garry and Alan Connell are likely to miss out.

Bradford City: (from) Evans, Arnison, Lee, Clarke, Heckingbottom, Colbeck, Bullock, McLaren, Daley, Thorne, Boulding, Furman, Conlon, Nix, Moncur, Bower.

Cherries: (from) Jalal, Ward, Cooper, Guyett, Pearce, Cummings, Wagstaff, Anderton, Igoe, Hollands, Bartley, Goulding, Pitman, Bradbury, Partington, McQuoid, Lindfield, Pryce.