BATTLING Marcos Senesi praised Cherries’ medical staff for helping him get through Sunday’s game against Brighton, admitting he “couldn’t really run” the previous day.

Centre-back Senesi had been subbed off late on four days earlier, during a 1-0 win against Wolves at Molineux.

But, especially with Illia Zabarnyi ruled out due to illness, Cherries needed Senesi in the heart of the defence.

And things could not have gone much better for the Argentinean, scoring his fourth goal of the season and keeping a clean sheet in a 3-0 victory, before being replaced by James Hill in the closing stages.

Senesi told the Daily Echo: “I got a really tough knock in the last game and Saturday was a tough training for me.

“I couldn’t really run.

“But I think I got into the game.

“The medical staff really helped me with that and I’m happy to complete the game.”

He added: “We played a really good game. I thought we were really good.

“We have done our job.

“I think it was a perfect game for us. They didn’t create many chances and we finished with a comfortable result.”

Zabarnyi was a late withdrawal after waking up feeling unwell, meaning his run of not missing a minute in the Premier League all season came to an end.

Senesi lined up in his place on the right of the central defensive pairing, with Lloyd Kelly slotting in on the left. The pair did switch positions however, after Senesi was shown an early booking for a foul on Joao Pedro.

“It was a different one without Zaba there, but I have played with Lloydy in that position last season,” said Senesi.

“So we know each other very well and I think we did a good job.

“Andoni (Iraola) wanted us to change because Lloydy or me as the right centre-back position had to step up a bit more.

“Because of the yellow card, we were more aware of that.”