SCOTT Parker insisted Emiliano Marcondes’s “superb” displays in training earned him a route back into Cherries’ starting XI.

The Danish playmaker, signed on a free transfer in the summer, played the opening 56 minutes of the Dorset club’s 1-1 draw with Fulham on Friday.

Marcondes’s previous start in the league came at Hull City, all the way back in August.

Quizzed about the return of Marcondes, Parker told the Daily Echo: “I thought he was very good. Needs must, I thought that Emi has been superb in training, hence why we picked him.

“I thought first half we struggled a little bit.

“When we worked through the lines and we were brave, you could see if we could be brave for two or three passes, we cut them open.

“Dom (Solanke) had a massive chance and we worked on Dom’s positioning to be in between centre-half and full-back. He had a big chance in the first half.

“They did as well, granted. And then the goal obviously epitomises that as well. So Emi was very good.”

Former Brentford man Marcondes has made 11 appearances for Cherries this season.

His only goal for the club to date came on the opening day of the campaign at home against West Bromwich Albion.