BRAVE Liam Feeney is determined to keep playing through the pain barrier in a bid to help Cherries maintain their flying start.

Crowd-pleaser Feeney has starred on the flanks as Eddie Howe’s charges have taken League Two by storm this season.

The 22-year-old has been ever present as Cherries have rocketed to the top of the table thanks to eight wins in their opening 11 league games.

Feeney has been turning on the style and tormenting defenders up and down the country despite being troubled by a persistent thigh injury.

But with Cherries’ acute injury crisis continuing to mount, there had been no respite for Feeney until he was finally taken out of the firing line in midweek.

The Londoner, who missed Tuesday’s JPT defeat at Northampton, is hoping to be fit enough to return for tomorrow’s League Two clash with Chesterfield at Dean Court.

Feeney told the Daily Echo: “My thigh has been niggling me for a while now but, with the numbers in the squad, we haven’t had too many options. I had some treatment this week and a couple of days’ rest so, hopefully, I will be okay for Chesterfield.

“I want to play as many games as I can and nobody is forcing me to play by any means. I would play with a broken leg if I could. We’re top of the table and I want to make sure we stay there. I want to keep playing my part.”

Feeney, who joined Cherries for a nominal fee from Salisbury in January, has become a firm favourite with supporters and an air of expectancy fills Dean Court every time he embarks on one of his trademark electrifying runs.

“I love it!” said Feeney. “I can hear the supporters when I get the ball and it’s an amazing feeling. The fans have been good to me since I’ve been here and I can’t thank them enough.

“I don’t think things could have gone any better this season, both for me and the team, and everybody is buzzing.

“We were always confident we could get off to a good start but, with everything that has gone against us, I think most people would say we’re quite surprised at just how well we have done. It’s credit to everyone involved.”

Previewing the visit of the Spireites, Feeney said: “You can’t read too much into their mid-table position because the league is so tight. We are expecting another tough test and they are a decent team.

“We will certainly need to be at our best to keep our home record intact.”

Cherries: (from) Thomas, Robinson, Bartley, Garry, Cummings, Hollands, Edgar, Tindall, McQuoid, Connell, Bradbury, Stockley, Ings, Webb, Feeney, Fletcher, Pitman, Pearce, Goulding, Jalal.

Chesterfield: (from) Lee, Little, Page Breckin, Robertson, Lowry, Niven, Allott, McDermott, Lester, Small, Currie, Talbot, Austin, Gray, Bowrey, Crossley.