Scott Parker revealed Emiliano Marcondes could start against Luton when his Bournemouth side visit Kenilworth Road on Saturday lunchtime.
Emiliano Marcondes has put himself in a “great position” to start for the Cherries against Luton on Saturday according to head coach Scott Parker.
The Danish midfielder was the star of the show as the Dorset club defeated Yeovil 3-1 in last weekend’s FA Cup third round tie - scoring all three of the Cherries’ goals.
Speaking to the media ahead of the trip to Kenilworth Road, Parker said: "He has put himself in a great position because of what he did at the weekend.
“He is always in my thoughts [to start] every weekend. Of course he is in the squad, he has come off a hat-trick, and it’s a possibility Emi may start at the weekend along with a lot of others at this present moment in time.”
The 26-year-old, who joined the club from Brentford in the summer, has not featured much for Parker’s table-topping side of late, having only made six substitute appearances in the last 20 league games. But Saturday’s match winning performance is of no surprise to the Bournemouth head coach who praised the midfielder’s attitude.
“It doesn’t surprise me that he has put himself in a position to be able to score and execute a hat-trick like he did because of his habits in terms of his mental status,” Parker added.
“When you are consistent in your thinking and your behaviours you always give yourself the best opportunity to put yourself forward when need be and that is Emi to a tee really.
“I think I said after the game he’s probably struggled over the last couple of months in terms of game time and has probably not been as pleased or as happy as what he would have liked, because every footballer wants to play, and Emi has probably not had the minutes that he would have liked, but his training habits, his demeanour around the team, his whole attitude has been spot on."
Parker continued: “Hence why I constantly say, when you get an opportunity and you can perform and score a hat-trick and that was Emi at the weekend.
“I was really pleased because as a manager and as a coach these are things you are always banging on about, making sure you are ready, making sure you are able to take your opportunity and take advantage of any opportunites that may fall your way.”
Marcondes’ early season form saw the Danish international score on his league debut in the 2-2 draw with West Brom on the opening day of the campaign. He went on to start each of the next four games and Parker knows what the former Brentford man can bring to his team.
“Emi did fantastically well at the start of the season, then he came out of the side and the players that came in have done well, but Emi proved at the weekend that it is no mean feat scoring a hat-trick from midfield and he has done that,” explained Parker.
“Emi is part of this squad and I know Emi’s qualities and what he brings to this team and he proved that at the weekend.
With Junior Stanislas ruled out yet again with a recurrence of hamstring injury that has plagued the 32-year-old all season, Marcondes looks set to keep his starting place and could be deployed in a more advanced role after his goal scoring efforts last weekend.
Parker added: “Yeah, that could be the case - Emi Is definitely a guy we can go to.”