FORMER Cherries hero Brett Pitman has returned to the club to train with the under-21s after being frozen out by Portsmouth.

Pitman joined Pompey from Ipswich Town in 2017 and has made 99 appearances for the club, scoring 42 goals.

But the 32-year-old has played a bit-part role this campaign, not starting a League One match since October.

As reported by Portsmouth News, Pitman is not currently part of Pompey boss Kenny Jackett's plans and as such has been allowed to train with Cherries' youngsters "until further notice".

Pitman enjoyed two successful spells with Cherries after coming through the club's academy, scoring more than 100 goals in his 286 appearances, helping the club all the way up from League Two to the Premier League before joining Ipswich in 2015.

The Daily Echo understands Pitman linked up with Cherries under-21s at Canford Arena earlier this week in a bid to keep up his fitness, but he is in no way involved with first-team training.

Cherries under-21s are coached by Pitman's former team-mates Shaun Cooper and Mark Molesley.

Pitman was recently voted into the Echo readers' Cherries team of the decade.