Alex Scott is nearing a return to the Bournemouth squad as he steps up his recovery from a quad injury. Manager Marco Rose confirmed the midfielder is back on the pitch and working hard, offering a positive update ahead of the Cherries' next Premier League fixture.

Scott sustained the injury while on international duty with England, making his full debut against Croatia.

Squad readiness and recent form

Scott's potential return comes as Bournemouth enjoy their best form of the season. The team has won its last five matches across all competitions, a run that includes a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa last time out. That result lifted the Cherries to 13th in the Premier League table with nine points from eight games, a record of two wins and three draws from their opening eight fixtures. They host Leeds United, who are seventh, in their next league match on Saturday 31 October. The team's recent five-game winning run, with five wins and no draws or defeats, has featured emphatic victories including a 3-0 win at Manchester United and a 3-0 triumph over AC Milan. In the 3-0 win over Aston Villa on Wednesday 28 October, goals came from Amine Adli, Lewis Cook and Álvaro Rodríguez. The side has scored 12 goals this season while conceding 13, giving them a goal difference of minus one, and they currently sit 12 points behind the league leaders, Manchester City.

Rose indicated the club will be cautious with Scott's reintegration, noting they have a two-week period after the national break to get him fully fit. While the player has not yet trained with the full team, his individual work has been problem-free. This careful approach is balanced against the squad's current momentum, which Rose described as being "in a flow" but requiring continued hard work.

Other squad notes include new signing Juanlu, who is working hard to adapt after making a positive first start at right-back. The manager also stated that forward Kroupi does not yet feel ready to start, though he is available. Bournemouth will assess Scott's readiness over the coming days before finalising plans for the Leeds game and the subsequent break. The club's full upcoming schedule is available on the fixtures page.

The report in full is at Bournemouth Echo