Has this Bournemouth star’s long awaited return galvanised the club?

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Eddie Howe is renowned for keeping his cards close to his chest. Never one to reveal his hand until the last possible moment, there is often a surprise or two when the Bournemouth manager announces his match-day squad, but the inclusion of Max Gradel at Watford caught everyone off-guard. The Ivorian had been sidelined for six months with a serious knee injury and had only recently rejoined his team-mates on the training pitch, after being permitted to recuperate in his home country. Despite Gradel’s eagerness to return as soon as possible, Howe had stated that his star midfielder would not be rushed back into the fold.

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So, there was a great amount of shock in the away section at Vicarage Road when Gradel was named on the substitutes’ bench. And as fate would have it, an injury to Junior Stanislas midway through the first half meant that Gradel was introduced much sooner than Howe had anticipated. The Cherries boss need not have worried; it was like he had never been away. Immediately Gradel added quality and flair to the side. Despite not having played a competitive fixture for six months, he exhibited remarkable stamina to last the duration. Three days later he was included in the starting XI against Southampton and went on to produce a virtuoso performance that belied his painstaking recovery, helping to seal a famous 2-0 victory over the club’s south-coast rivals.

It may sound cliché, but Gradel’s return really does feel like a new signing. Bournemouth’s injury nightmare this season has been well documented, with the Ivorian one of three players to have been struck down by the knee ligament curse. He sustained his against Leicester City in only his fourth appearance since joining from French outfit Saint Etienne for £7 million. The incident looked innocuous and Gradel was able to walk off the pitch, but the diagnosis revealed the true extent of the damage. It was a monumental blow to Howe and one that was compounded by similarly serious injuries to left-back Tyrone Mings (in the same match) and striker Callum Wilson.
The timing of Gradel’s comeback is vitally important as the club battles to secure its Premier League status. He is an infectious character both on and off the pitch and Howe has already spoken about the positive effect he has had on the rest of the squad, and the same can be said about his impact on the supporters. Gradel was a firm favourite during a previous loan spell back in 2008 when the club was in an altogether different position, struggling at the foot of League One. His name was chanted repeatedly against Watford and Southampton and there was a palpable wave of excitement whenever he had the ball at his feet. Gradel has that rare gift of being able to conjure something special out of nothing, which keeps supporters permanently perched on the edge of their seats.

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After spending such a long time on the treatment table, it would be understandable if Cherries supporters have to wait until next season before the very best of Gradel is on show. That they have seen him at all is testament to his professionalism in ensuring he remained in the best possible shape during his enforced lay-off. His return has certainly lifted the spirits of everyone connected with the club. There is no doubt that Wilson and Mings will have both been inspired by his progress, as they also deal with the psychological trauma of overcoming serious injury. Bournemouth’s charismatic number 10 has led the way – and he’s determined to make up for lost time.

Featured Image: All rights reserved by Stefan Meisel