STEVE Lovell is aiming to repay Cherries’ patience and forget his injury torment by helping the club achieve promotion.

Cherries’ forgotten man is today set to make his eagerly awaited return after almost 12 months on the sidelines.

The injury plagued frontman, who was snapped up on a one-year contract in the summer, is expected to make his first appearance since rejoining Cherries in this afternoon’s reserve match against Swindon Town at Dean Court (2pm).

Frustrated by a long-term ankle problem, Lovell has been back in first-team training for two weeks and is in line to step up his bid for full fitness against the Robins.

Lovell, brother of former Cherries boss Eddie Howe, has had three operations on his ankle injury and saw his recovery hampered by complications following one of those procedures in April.

However, after a painstaking recovery mission, he is now poised to put on his boots once again.

And the totesport.com Combination clash will offer Cherries supporters a fresh look at the striker, who is in his second spell at Dean Court, having progressed through the club’s youth ranks.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Lovell said: “There is a massive difference from running to training and then playing in a game, so I’m going to be rusty but I’m looking forward to it.

“I’m not worried about how it is going to go, I am just looking forward to finally getting back to playing.

“I know that I’m very unlikely to be starting games or getting close to that. But if I can play some part off the bench and do my bit, hopefully I can repay the patience of the fans, chairman, manager and all the players.

“It is not easy being out for so long with an injury when it is my career and it is what I do.

“But you can kind of see the frustration of the fans when you have got someone who hasn’t been able to play. So, I would like to be able to do something to repay them because this is my home club as well.”

He added: “The boys have done brilliantly this season. I want to be part of that and I want us to go up into a new league.

“Now it is coming down to the last few games, it is going to be difficult but we know that.

“We have been up at the top all season and it is not by luck.

“I would just love to be able to play some part in taking us up.”

In August, Lovell offered to only draw 50 per cent of his monthly salary until such time as he is fit to return to action.