Marco Rose has explained his decision to keep Alex Scott on the bench for Bournemouth's recent win over Ipswich. The manager said he initially planned a 20-minute cameo for the returning midfielder but changed his approach during the game to manage the player's minutes. Rose stated that while Scott was ready to contribute for a significant period, the match situation led to a different decision. He emphasised the importance of using the international break to get the 20-year-old fully up to speed, describing the process as careful management.
Scott was back in a matchday squad for the first time since suffering a thigh injury on England duty in September. The source reports that Rose was pleased with the player's progress but reiterated the need for a sensible reintegration plan.
Bournemouth's winning streak continues
The context for Rose's careful management is a superb run of form. Bournemouth's 2-1 victory at Portman Road was their seventh consecutive win across all competitions. They have scored 19 goals and conceded just one during that streak, which includes a 3-0 triumph at Manchester United and a 2-0 win over Leeds United. The source adds that this run also features victories over Sparta Prague and Galatasaray in the Europa League.
The club now sits seventh in the Premier League standings with 15 points from 10 games. They are 12 points behind leaders Arsenal but carry the momentum of a five-game league winning run into their next fixture. The source notes that this is the club's best ever start to a Premier League season.
Squad updates for Nottingham Forest clash
Scott's return is part of a broader boost for Rose. Junior Kroupi is also back in the squad after being ineligible for Europa League action, while defenders Antonio Silva and Adrien Truffert have returned to training. Goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic is available again with Michele Di Gregorio dropping to the bench.
Not all news is positive, however. Julian Araujo is managing a thigh problem, Juanlu Sanchez has an ankle ligament injury, and Alex Toth is not expected back from hamstring surgery before the new year. Veljko Milosavljevic is building fitness with the under-21s. The source further reports that midfielder Lucas Gourna-Douath is suspended for the next match after accumulating three yellow cards in Europe.
Bournemouth will now aim to extend their winning run to eight matches when they host Nottingham Forest on November 21. Forest are currently 16th in the table. Top scorer Evanilson, who has five goals this season, will be central to those plans after netting in the wins over Ipswich and Sparta Prague. The source confirms that the match will be played at the Vitality Stadium.
The report in full is at Bournemouth Echo
