MANAGER Jason Tindall insisted it was “great” to get frontman Joshua King back on the pitch for Cherries and labelled him “a very good professional”.

King played the final nine minutes of the Dorset club’s 1-0 victory over Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday.

He had not featured for the previous eight Championship fixtures, after contracting COVID-19 and then picking up a back problem during his return to fitness.

King last started a game for Cherries during a 1-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday last month.

But Tindall insisted a return to match action would benefit the 28-year-old.

He told the Daily Echo: “We know the quality that Josh has got and there are no two ways about that, so it was great to have him back available.

“It’s been a long time coming due to different things – COVID and then the back problem he picked up through working hard in training.

“It was great to get him back out on the pitch and I’m sure those minutes will do him good.”

King, who has also been heavily linked with a move away from Vitality Stadium, has featured in just six of Cherries’ 19 league fixtures. He is yet to find the net for the Dorset club this season.

Asked whether the striker would be keen to get going again now he is back playing, Tindall said: “Of course, I’ve got no problem with Josh. Josh worked extremely hard the past couple of weeks and was a little bit unfortunate to pick up the back problem.

“Listen, Josh is a very good professional. Whilst he’s at this football club, when called upon he will go and give his best and deliver the best performance he can.”