Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe says he’d have no hesitation in putting Lee Camp between the posts for the big Championship opener against Huddersfield Town.
The former West Brom stopper who was a key man for the Cherries last time around hasn’t played a game in pre-season because of a thigh injury.
To make matters worse for Howe, Darryl Flahavan has also been nursing a knock while Ryan Allsop has been loaned to Coventry.
That has meant a busy spell for Benji Buchel, who despite having won six caps for Liechtenstein, has not made a first-team appearance in two seasons on the South coast.
Camp, pictured above and signed in January after a successful loan stint, could still feature at the John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday.
“I don’t think pre-season is as important for a goalkeeper as for the outfield players,” explained Howe, who guided his side to a 10th-placed finish last season.
“Lee knows how we play and how to look after himself, and I would have no problem in playing him with no training. We just have to make sure the thigh is right.”
Howe, who split his squad for final warm-up games against Swansea on Friday and Oxford on Saturday, has made six summer signings.
Striker Callum Wilson has switched from Coventry and midfielders Dan
Gosling and Junior Stanislas from Newcastle and Burnley respectively.
Wilson scored a hat trick and Stanislas got the other in a 4-1 win at Oxford.
Marc Pugh (2) and Brett Pitman were on target as visitors Swansea were seen off 3-1.
The 25-year-old Buchel played in both games.
Former Town striker Paul Mullin has joined League II Morecambe.
The 19-year-old was at Liverpool as a youngster.
“Paul has been excellent since he came here. He has looked sharp up front and scored a couple of good goals,” said boss Jim Bentley.
“He is young and hungry to do well and we look forward to working with him.”
