Afobe keen to make impression from Cherries bench

Benik Afobe may be adjusting to life on the Bournemouth bench, but the former Arsenal man admits he finds it difficult to watch on from the sidelines.

The 23-year-old scored a vital equaliser for the Cherries in Saturday’s draw with Watford, and Afobe said being on the bench poses a mental challenge, as well as the psychological blow of not making the starting 11.

Afobe has netted just three times this seaon, but with 13 of his 19 appearances having come as a substitute, the DR Congo-qualified player admitted to struggling with the transition.

“The manager always says to be ready from minute one, all the subs, from the goalkeeper to the centre-forward,” he said.

“It’s tough because you have to be mentally prepared. I feel like I’m playing because you keep watching the game and you’re more nervous on the bench because you can’t do anything about it.

Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images

“Once you go out there you just make sure you have a good warm-up and are ready to contribute. Thankfully against Watford I did that and managed to get myself a goal for the club.”

The striker hopes his performance on Saturday will persuade Eddie Howe to give him a run in the starting 11, and he thinks that were the game against Watford ten minutes longer, Bournemouth would have won.

“At the time we thought we could go on and get the winner, if there were ten or 15 minutes more we probably could have,” added Afobe. “We’re disappointed with the draw to be honest.”