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Andoni Iraola backs Evanilson to start firing for Bournemouth

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is confident Brazil striker Evanilson will soon start to justify his club record transfer fee.

Andoni Iraola, manager of AFC Bournemouth.
Andoni Iraola, manager of AFC Bournemouth. Picture: AAP Image

Evanilson has yet to score after three appearances for the Cherries, who signed him from Porto last month for a fee which could rise to £40.2million.

But Iraola insists he is happy with the 24-year-old's contribution and feels he has benefited from extra time on the training field during the international break.

Iraola said: "It's been very good for him because we could spend more time with him individually, analysing things that we will ask from him, to understand better collectively what we will try to do.

"It's been a very good time for him also personally, to settle in, to find his house and the school for his daughter and he's probably more relaxed now.

"He has been very good. I think he played very well against Newcastle and West Ham, probably not against Everton.

"But he has played about 120 Premier League minutes and we all want him to score straight away, but for me I'm happy with the performances he has had.

"I'm not focusing on whether he is going to score or not. I want him to help us and that's what we'll ask him (against Chelsea)."

Bournemouth produced a remarkable fightback at Everton before the international break, winning 3-2 having trailed 2-0 in the 87th minute.

The Cherries' first win of the season followed draws with Nottingham Forest and Newcastle and Iraola is expecting another tough test on Saturday.

"It's going to be a difficult game for us, tactically also," he said. "Chelsea are a team that in their first three Premier League games they used three different structures because they have a lot of different players and alternatives.

"It's not easy to know how they will play. We have to prepare for a lot of different options. For me, they've played really well, they're going to be good this season.

"They've lost against (Manchester) City only and it's going to be a very difficult game."

Iraola confirmed Dango Ouattara will miss out after sustaining an ankle injury while on duty with Burkina Faso, but both David Brooks and Enes Unal are back in contention. Tyler Adams continues to recover from back surgery.

Iraola will also be without goalkeeper Kepa, who is ineligible to play against his parent club after joining the Cherries on a season-long loan last month.

"We knew it before he came," Iraola added. "They are the rules. He cannot play. Mark (Travers) will start and he has been very good when he has had the chance and I'm confident he will do well."


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