MIDFIELDER Matt Butcher admitted it had been “nice to get back” after making his return from a knee ligament injury.

The Cherries ace featured for 45 minutes as the Dorset club sealed a 3-0 Premier League Cup Group E victory over Nottingham Forest on Friday.

Butcher made his first appearance since tearing his lateral collateral ligament in the summer.

He told afcbTV: “It’s always nice to get back. Obviously it was a long process being injured – it was frustrating being out.

“I got through pre-season, got through the hardest bit and then got injured on the first day, so not ideal. I’ve been through it before and everyone is going to have long-term injuries.

“It’s just something you’ve got to go through.”

Shaun Cooper’s side currently top the group with 10 points from four games in the competition.

“It was even better to get the win, the lads were buzzing, so it was good,” said 22-year-old Butcher.

“The ideal scenario is for us to top the group, so that puts us in the best position for that.

“All we can do it try to win the next game, keep that same form and keep that momentum going.”