STEVE Fletcher completed his shock Cherries comeback by turning out for 10 minutes but insisted he will not be happy to become a bit-part player this season.

The big striker entered the fray at Blackpool as an 81st-minute substitute for Dani Rodrigues in the 3-3 draw at Bloomfield Road after just one day's full training as he aims to recover from his ongoing knee problem.

But while he is a useful late replacement to cause tiring opposition defences problems, Fletcher is keen to make sure he will soon be available to start matches once again.

He told the Daily Echo: "If Sean wants to play me for 10 or 15 minutes when he needs me as I work my way back to fitness, I am more than happy to do that. But I don't want that to last. I will not be happy just turning out for the last 10 minutes every week. If that was the case, I wouldn't want to be a player anymore.

"I want to start games. So that means getting myself back to fitness and taking my chance when I get it. It will be hard to get back into the side - maybe as hard as it has ever been - but I'm hopeful I can do it."

The talismanic frontman admitted he had been surprised to get the call from Cherries boss Sean O'Driscoll on Friday morning but was overjoyed to get the chance to link up with his team-mates once again.

He said: "It was one of the biggest surprises of my career - that and scoring in the play-off final! I'd only had contact training on Friday and that is always the easiest day physically.

"When I came back after about 15 months out at Lincoln, I'd trained with the boys for about 10 days before that.

"But Sean asked me after breakfast on Friday how I felt and I was delighted to be involved again. It was just great to travel with the boys again - to get on the bench and get on for 10 minutes was an absolute bonus.

"It has given me a real lift. It has put a spring in my step and I'm a happier person because there is nothing worse than watching all the time. I should know, because it has happened a lot to me over the years."

With Fletcher's knee requiring careful management, the club captain insisted his continued rehabilitation will be closely monitored.

He said: "Nothing will be rushed obviously but it is a catch-22. I need to train to get my fitness but I can't overdo it because it will set me back. There will be days when I do my work in the gym but I'll be hoping to be out training with the boys at least twice this week and the rest of the time I'll be in the gym."

The loyal Dean Court servant paid tribute to the travelling supporters who greeted his entrance with a warm reception and admitted he had got a little carried away at one point during his cameo appearance.

He said: "The fans were great to me when I came on and that meant a lot. Then I tried to chase one down the line at one point and realised I hadn't got any pace back.

"I don't know what I was thinking but I pushed the ball past the defender and tried to get round him when I have hardly done any training. I won't do that again, until I've had a lot more training!"

O'Driscoll said: "Steve Fletcher gave us a bit of a target and his size and strength gives the defenders a different problem than they had for the rest of the game.

"He has been out a long time and we need to know where he is. I wasn't planning to use him for anymore than 15 minutes but it was nice to have that option.

"There will be games when I think he should play and there will be games when I think he won't but opposition teams rub their hands when they see he's not playing.

"We know we have to manage his knee carefully but it is good to have him back."