Is Defoe best used as a sub?

The match against Newcastle saw Jermain Defoe return to the squad on the bench and he played a part in the fight back having come on in the 73rd minute. He had one good effort at goal, when he hit the side netting just moments after taking to the pitch, but should Bournemouth want more from a striker that is surely the highest paid player at the club?

I think first game back, nobody would expect Defoe to be doing much more than he did against Newcastle. Just having him on the pitch was enough to send jotters down some of the spines of a few Newcastle players. His presence is always going to be noted when he is on the team sheet and that made me think, should Defoe be pleased with his season or should he expect to be more involved now that he is getting back to full fitness?

Should AFCB get more out of Defoe than substitute duties?

Starting with Defoe was not that productive in the early games of this season, but Jermain was still getting used to how Bournemouth played and the rest of the team were working out how best to service Jermain. Arguably Jermain has not had enough games yet to really know if he should be a prime starter or not. What we have seen is that he can score amazing goals, as he did against Crystal Palace, and it would have been intriguing to see what he could have done with more than his 16 appearances so far.

Defoe has scored three goals on his return to the south coast and I would actually like Eddie to give Jermain a real go at forming a partnership with Wilson or King, although there are few games left for him to change things around much. Defoe is experienced and will know what is required at this point of the season, which makes it more tempting for Eddie to get him more involved I would think. But we have not really seen a system that really works well for Jermain at Bournemouth yet and by dipping him into games in the second half, I just hope that it does get the best out of him.

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Given the number of games and the goals he has scored, some might feel that it has not been a great return for Jermain, but we can't assess how much impact he has had as a team member in the dressing room, in training and in and around the club. He is always a chirpy chap from what I have seen and his charity work is second to none. But we all know that Jermain is one of the best strikers that this country has produced, and it would be fantastic if he could really end the season with a goal feast to remind everyone that he is top quality on and off the pitch.

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