LATEST Cherries recruit Jack Stephens detailed how his move across the south coast was a “little bit out of the blue”, before sharing how “it felt like the right time for a fresh challenge.” 28-year-old Stephens has swapped Hampshire for Dorset on deadline day, in a move that was seemingly completed in a short turnaround. The centre-back was spotted watching Cherries’ clash with Wolves at the Vitality Stadium on Wednesday night, just hours after initial reports of a move came out. Speaking about the whirlwind final days of the window,
Jack Stephens said: “It was a little bit out of the blue. Got a phone call yesterday and obviously I was really keen to make it happen and it was all done in a few hours and luckily I was able to get it done. I was really impressed (watching the Wolves game). It’s a good point coming off from a disappointing defeat. It’s great to see that the lads haven’t sat on that result. They’ve looked to bounce back as quickly as possible and I thought they did that last night with a really good point.”
Stephens is more than aware of what it takes to survive in the Premier League, after having played 122 games in the top-flight for perennial relegation battlers Saints.
Jack Stephans added: “I’ve played some games at this level and I’ve been around it for quite a few years. So I’m just hoping that I’m able to offer as much experience as possible. But for myself, I just want to try and get in the team, play as many games as I can and help the team and the club, stay in the division and push up the league. Obviously, I haven’t been out for a while, I haven’t changed club for a while, so it felt like the right time for a fresh challenge and one that I’m really looking forward to. So, like I said, I want to play as many games as I can and help the team and the club push up the division and hopefully have a successful season.”
Stephens’ move was sorted in time to allow the centre-back to train with the first-team this morning.
Jack Stephans said: “I knew two or three of them before I came. Obviously I didn’t get a chance to speak to them before it happened because it happened quite quickly. But yeah, I’ve met all the lads this morning and they’ve all been very welcoming and I’m looking forward to working with them. (Training was) really enjoyable. I was quite anxious to get involved and wasn’t sure if we were able to get out and train this morning, but luckily I was able to get involved and it’s nice to get that first one out of the way and focus on the task ahead.”
Cherries have frequently switched between a three-man and two-man central defence over the first five games of the season, with Stephens comfortable in either shape thanks to his education at Saints.
Jack Stephans said: “Something that I’m quite used to over the last couple of years. I’ve played in teams that played back five and back four, so yeah, I feel comfortable in either formation and whatever the manager wants me to do, I’m happy to do that.
