AFC BOURNEMOUTH mid-fielder Steve Robinson was last night celebrating an unexpected bonus - a call from Lawrie McMenemy for Northern Ireland's European Championship double header against Turkey and Germany next month.

The Cherries' ace feared he would be overlooked after being forced to pull out of Ireland's prestigious friendly against France last week.

Injury dashed Robbo's chances of fac-ing the world champions but he was fit enough to return for Cherries in Saturday's 4-0 win over Colchester - and Irish manager McMenemy was there to check him out.

Robinson's inclusion against Turkey in Belfast on September 4 and against Germany in Dortmund four days later means he will miss Cherries' Division 2 games against Luton (a week today) and Burnley.

He has more immediate club business tonight when he plays for Cherries in the Worthington Cup first round second leg at Barnet where Mel Machin's men defend a 2-0 lead.

BOURNEMOUTH: (from) Ovendale, Young, Warren, Cox, Howe, Mean, Robinson, Jorgensen, Hughes, Stein, Fletcher, Hayter, Huck, Watson, Bailey, Day, Broadhurst, O'Neill, Stewart.

Alan Ball has a special reason for recalling veteran goalkeeper Alan Knight to the bench for tonight's Worthington Cup second leg against Torquay United at Fratton Park.

Knight is just two games away from chalking up an incredible 800 appearances for Pompey and manager Ball says: "If I can get him on at some stage tonight, I will. I would very much like him to get his 800 games - it would be some achievement."

Pompey are in the driving seat for tonight's tie after pegging Torquay to a goalless draw at Plainmoor last week despite having Matt Robinson sent off for two bookable offences.

Ball says he will use the tie to give other members of his squad a game. "We've got three games in six days, so it's important to keep everybody nice and fresh."

Confidence in the camp is higher than it has been for years after Pompey moved to second place in Division 1 on Saturday but Ball won't be underestimating the Devon side who are riding high in the top six in Division 3 and impressed Ball last week.

Pompey's interest in Aussie midfielder Michael Panopoulous, who plays for Greek side Aris, has been put on hold.

PORTSMOUTH: (from) Petterson, Robinson, Cundy, Whitbread, Simpson, Thorgersen, Migloranzi, McLoughlin, Peron, Whittingham, Allen, Nightingale, Awford, Vlachos, Newton, Knight.

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