Bournemouth Handed Double Fitness Boost as Kluivert and Adli Return for Sturm Graz

Bournemouth have received a timely double fitness boost ahead of the first home European fixture in the club's history, with Justin Kluivert and Amine Adli both declared fit and expected to return to the squad for Thursday's Europa League meeting with Sturm Graz at the Vitality Stadium.

Why it matters

The Cherries head into the visit of the Austrian side stuck in the Premier League's bottom three, winless after six matches and reeling from Saturday's 5-1 defeat at Chelsea, where two goals were conceded inside the opening three minutes. Manager Marco Rose called that result a 'real slap' and demanded a reaction in midweek, and the return of two attacking options gives him far more firepower to engineer one. Adli is yet to feature this season because of a calf injury, while Kluivert's availability had also been in doubt. Both are now in line to feature as Bournemouth look to marry their European form with a domestic recovery.

The Europa League picture

Bournemouth marked their maiden European campaign with a statement 2-1 victory at Real Sociedad in the opening round of matches, and the Sturm Graz fixture offers the chance to take control of the group stage in front of a home crowd experiencing continental football for the first time. A year that began with talk of consolidation after finishing sixth last season has instead delivered a winless league start, so the European nights have become the stage where Rose's project can rediscover its rhythm.

What to watch

The intrigue on Thursday is how Rose uses his returning forwards. Adli's calf problem means he may be eased in from the bench rather than thrown straight into a first start of the season, while Kluivert's fitness gives the manager the option of reshuffling his front line from the side that collapsed so quickly at Stamford Bridge. With a demanding run of domestic fixtures following the midweek tie, squad depth suddenly looks healthier than it has for weeks — and a first home win in Europe would be the ideal platform for the Premier League recovery to start.