FRONTMAN Sam Surridge believes the increased number of substitutions allowed in the Premier League could be a positive for him during the run-in.

Cherries boss Eddie Howe will now be permitted to make up to five changes in a top-flight contest from now until the end of the season.

League shareholders also approved clubs to name nine players on the bench for the rest of the campaign, rather than the regulation seven.

Ferndown-raised Surridge, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Championship Swansea, has been an unused substitute on four occasions in the Premier League since the turn of the year.

And he is hoping the temporary rule change could offer him more of an opportunity.

Speaking about the increase of available substitutions, before the rule was approved, Surridge told the Daily Echo: “I have been on the bench for the majority of them since I’ve been back.

“Hopefully they will utilise that and with a striker working hard the majority of the game – and you need a goal – you want your strikers on the pitch.

“Hopefully, that’s another positive for me if that does happen.”

He added: “I think it’s good, not just for me, for everyone. We haven’t had a long time to prepare. Players are going to need to be rested.

“I think it’s a good idea for me personally, because we are going to have two games in a week.”

Surridge has come off the bench twice for Cherries since rejoining Howe’s troops.

He played 15 minutes against Watford in the Premier League, before memorably coming on to net against Arsenal in the FA Cup.

That was his first senior goal for the club, in four first-team substitute appearances. “I was waiting for that opportunity,” he added.

“It didn’t come until late but I knew as soon as I got on, if I got a chance, you’ve just got to take it. That’s how I think when I get onto the pitch.

“You have to make the most of what you can at the moment until they put more faith in you to have more minutes and gradually you keep building it up.

“Since I have been back, I’ve showed what I can do.

“I’ve got a couple of strikers in front of me but hopefully in training I am showing I can push for a place.”