Bournemouth head coach Marco Rose says Junior Kroupi’s comeback will be managed carefully, despite the French forward receiving further first-team minutes during the week.
Kroupi missed the opening three months of the campaign with a foot problem. He made his return in Bournemouth’s 3-0 victory against Manchester United, before coming on in the 80th minute of Wednesday’s League Cup win over Aston Villa.
Quick facts
- Junior Kroupi is easing back after a foot injury.
- The 20-year-old has been linked with Premier League champions Arsenal.
- Bournemouth have won five straight matches in all competitions without conceding.
- Alex Scott remains sidelined by a thigh injury but could be available next week.
The 20-year-old impressed during his first season in English football and has reportedly drawn attention from Arsenal.
Rose, speaking before Saturday’s Premier League trip to Leeds, stressed that Kroupi must not be rushed back into a full workload.
“We have to keep increasing his minutes,” Rose said. “I’m delighted he is back and that we have his quality available again, but he understands he must stay patient so we do not create another injury issue.
“We need to bring him up to full fitness and get him into a good place, with gradually more match action alongside productive training sessions.”
Bournemouth will still be without midfielder Scott, although the thigh injury that has kept him out could allow him to return next week.
The Cherries arrive at Leeds in outstanding form, having recorded five successive victories and five clean sheets across all competitions.
Rose replaced Andoni Iraola after the Spaniard left Bournemouth to take charge of Liverpool, and believes the team had shown encouraging signs even before their current streak.
“I thought during pre-season that we were moving in the right direction,” Rose said. “Our early performances were good, but we failed to take certain moments and individual errors led to soft goals, which is why the results did not come.
“Now, most matches are falling our way, but it comes through hard work and we must maintain that work.”
