Cornick steps up

Perhaps it escaped the attention of some of you that Harry Cornick was close to playing a featuring role in Saturday's game against Blackpool. A spate of injuries during the week had propelled Harry into the thoughts of Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall and had given the ex-Christchurch player a chance to be involved in the build up to the game, going through the match day preparation, sampling the crowd during the warm up and having a nervous wait on the bench in case he was called upon.

I can't imagine how exciting it must be to be told you are being pulled up to the first team squad for an immanent game. It must be quite thrilling and yet also scary that you are now expected to play your part in the team if called upon during the 90 minutes of the match for the first time of your career, in front of the biggest crowd you would have ever played in front of. Just such a moment will have happened to Harry Cornick last weekend as he got the nod from Eddie Howe.

Cherry Chimes took the time to click a few pictures of who I am sure will be one of our future stars at the Goldsands stadium. Since Harry was brought to the club in the summer he has featured regularly in the Development squad, but Saturday will have been a new experience for him.

Confident last that he is though, wearing the number 34,  he did not look out of place on the field and within a few minutes he was practising his tricks and knocking the ball around. While there is a few players who are ahead of him in the pecking order for a starting place, such experience is invaluable. One day Harry will make a start or come on as a substitute and if it feels natural for him when that day comes, he is all the more likely to put in a strong performance. I hope one or two of the other talents in the Development squad get the opportunity to sample what it is like as a Championship player on the morning of a game, but less injuries to key players has to be the club's first aim.