KEVIN Bond has refused to be drawn on mounting speculation that he is set to sign veteran striker Steve Claridge.

The 40-year-old Portsmouth-born forward, below, is believed to have been contacted by Bond over the weekend and the Daily Echo understands that a one-month pay-as-you-play contract is set to be agreed.

But with the Cherries boss turning his full attention to tonight's vital League One home clash with Nottingham Forest (7.45pm kick-off), he declined to comment on the rumours specifically surrounding Claridge.

Bond said: "I'm fully focused on a very big game and I'm not in a position to talk about anything else at the moment."

The Cherries boss has seen his striking options depleted by the return to Saints of on-loan striker Leon Best last month, leaving him just Steve Fletcher, James Hayter and Brett Pitman with first-team experience.

As a free agent since his departure from Bradford in the summer, Claridge would be available to join immediately.

If Claridge does join, it will be a staggering 21 years after he left Dean Court in an illustrious career that has seen him clock up nearly 1,000 first-team appearances.

With Forest unbeaten on their travels in League One, the injury list is a major concern for Bond with Darren Anderton, Stephen Cooke (both groin), Marcus Browning (calf) and Warren Cummings (leg) stil sidelined.

Simon Gillett is poised to return to the Cherries midfield for his home debut after the Saints loanee missed the FA Cup clash at Bristol Rovers.

Forest, meanwhile, are expected to shuffle their pack after the 1-1 draw at Salisbury in the FA Cup on Sunday, with ex-Saint Paul Smith, Sammy Clingan, Neil Harris and Junior Agogo all set to start.