Cotterill on Bournemouth win

Our penultimate pre-season friendly before the season kicks-off a week Saturday saw us beat Bournemouth 1-0 last night, thanks to Marc Wilson's penalty, and Steve Cotterill was happy enough.

The result, as he told The News, was not his priority - just getting through this without anymore injuries and showing some spirit, as we did, is what he was looking for: 'I'm not too bothered about results at this stage of the season. I wouldn't have been worried if we'd lost the game.

'What's important is that we've come through the game without picking up any injuries and there's plenty of spirit in the side.

'It was a decent workout and we got a win.'

Questioned by sky sports after the game he revealed that Kevin-Prince Boateng is back in training today and Aaron Mokoena will 'not be far behind'.

John Utaka and Kanu will be back next week, and long overdue for me, although for how long any of them are back he does not know...

Speaking of Kanu when questioned about 'reports' that he has been offered a 3-YEAR CONTRACT he said, with a wry smile on his face: 'only 3-years? He's only a young man, I thought it was 6!'

To be honest, as much as I appreciate all that Kanu has done for us - but as I have said before this cuts both ways - I would remove any offer of the contract that we have put to him as the guy has ONCE AGAIN got out of pre-season training.

Yep I know he was always getting longer off, as all world cup players did, but returning just a week before the season, again, is a joke...And lets face it, whilst he still offers something can we really justify keeping him for, what 45-minutes per games - at best?

PLAY UP POMPEY!

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.