Having ben ousted from the starting eleven for much of last season, the Cherries very own 'Ginger Zidane' is looking to pre-season to force himself in to Eddie Howe's plans.
Speaking in the Bournemouth Evening Echo, Shaun MacDonald is quoted as saying: "It’s a fresh start for me. I need to get back, work hard and try to impress again in pre-season. At the moment, I’m trying not to think too far ahead. I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself, I just want to come back, enjoy it and play my natural game so I can go into the season fresh and ready. I love living in this area, love the club and I feel very settled. On a personal level, I feel happy and everything is set up for me to succeed here. When I look back on last season, it was a frustrating one for me. I started so well and was playing with a lot of confidence but when I got injured for a month, other players took their chance. By the time I came back, the team had started to do well so as frustrating as it was, not being in the team was understandable. But nobody is allowed to stand still at this club and the boys who played week in, week out last season will not be guaranteed a place. For me, it’s a case of getting some good work under my belt and taking it from there. My focus is to get into the team and start games after pre-season. I haven’t looked too far ahead of that, I just need to make sure I come out of the summer in the best possible shape to challenge. There is always the chance for everyone to impress so I am going to get my head down and give it my all".