DONAL McDermott insists the strength of the “unbelievable” Cherries squad can inspire Lee Bradbury’s men to hit the heights at Seward Stadium.

The gifted midfielder is enjoying his second spell at the Dorset club after making a deadline-day move from League One rivals Huddersfield Town.

A key performer as a loan player during last season’s play-off near miss, McDermott last month joined Cherries on a full-time basis in a deal understood to have been worth around £175,000.

The 22-year-old made his first appearance as a permanent player in last Tuesday’s win over Exeter before coming off the bench during the 0-0 draw at Hartlepool on Saturday.

He is battling the likes of Marc Pugh and Scott Malone for a position on Cherries’ flanks in tonight’s home clash with Leyton Orient (7.45pm).

The ex-Manchester City prospect is adamant that fierce competition for places will help him and his colleagues deliver their best form for Cherries.

McDermott told the Daily Echo: “In every game, you learn something about yourself.

“Training every week, you just try to get better as a player and a person.

“I will try to keep getting better, developing and, hopefully, do well for the team.

“Players do better when they are being pushed.

“I keep going back to Scott – coming off the bench and making a massive impact (against Exeter).

“When you have four or five wingers that can do something like that, it just pushes everyone and helps the team.”

While McDermott is optimistic about his own future, he is also bullish about Cherries’ prospects. Bradbury’s promotion hopefuls are in eight position, just one point off the top six.

When asked about the club’s play-off chances, McDermott replied: “It is fairly tight around the play-offs.

“But with our squad, I think if we keep going and trying to play football we will win more games than we lose.

“So I think there is a great chance.”

McDermott added: “I had been here before, I had a good time and the team did well when I was here in getting to the play-offs, so we are looking to do something similar second time round.

“Last season’s was a great team but this squad we have here is unbelievable.

“Scotty came off the bench against Exeter and scored and set up a goal and that just showed the depth of the squad.

“That will do us good for the remainder of the season.”

Cherries: (from) Flahavan, Francis, Cook, Zubar, Daniels, Pugh, Gregory, MacDonald, Malone, W Thomas, Tubbs, Purches, Fletcher, Arter, McDermott, Fogden, Cummings, Stockley, D Thomas.

Orient: (from) Butcher, McSweeney, Leacock, Cuthbert, Dickson, Spring, Smith, Taiwo, Laird, Cox, Lisbie, Forbes, Chorley, Porter, Mooney, Tehoue, Jones.