TWINTERVIEW: Charlie Sheringham

How fickle footballing fortunes can be. Charlie Sheringham's first goal for AFC Bournemouth, at Brentford on Boxing Day, appeared to have kick-started his Football League adventure, only for the 23-year-old to sustain a foot injury later in the same game. He hasn't played for the Cherries since.

Sheringham's terrific goalscoring form for Dartford at the start of the season earned him a move back into the professional game with Bournemouth, having toured the non-league circuit with Welling, Bishop's Stortford and Histon since his release from Crystal Palace in 2008. The son of former England striker Teddy, he earned the Darts a transfer fee of around £25,000 and made his first appearance for the League One club at Colchester on October 25.

Having waited until December 20 to make his full debut, Sheringham kept his place for the Brentford game only to see his season cut horribly short. I had interviewed Charlie immediately after his January move from Princes Park and decided it was time to catch up.

Firstly, can you give us an update on your injury - what's the damage and how long are you expecting to be out for?

I broke the navicular bone in my right foot on Boxing Day. I had an op to insert a couple of screws in to the bone to help it heal five weeks ago. Looking at another couple of months before I'm back playing.

You'd just scored your first goal for Bournemouth on Boxing Day - does that make it more frustrating to be stuck on the sidelines?


It was great to score but it definitely makes it more frustrating.



What's your favourite ground?



Old Trafford or White Hart Lane.



Who's the best player you've played with? And against?



Dougie Freedman was great to learn from when I was a youngster at Crystal Palace. Ryan Hayes at Dartford probably has the best delivery in non-league football. I played against Landon Donovan in a pre-season friendly.

What would your England team be for the first game at Euro 2012?



Hart, Walker, Ledley King, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Parker, Wilshere, Gerrard, Ashley Young, Adam Johnson, Welbeck (Rooney when back).


A winter break for football - good or bad idea?



Good idea.



Your last club, Dartford, are on the hunt for another promotion and they're still in the FA Trophy. What do you think is the big factor behind their progress at the moment?


Mainly that they've got a lot of good players down there. It's a well-run club and they have great support.


What was the first game you went to as a kid?



Millwall game when my dad was playing there.



Is there anything you miss about non-league?



Not really, I love playing professionally and still keep in contact with a lot of my team-mates from non-league anyway.


If you could play under any manager, past or present, who would it be?



Alex Ferguson.



Who's the changing-room DJ at Bournemouth?



Steve Fletcher or Micheal Symes control the stereo.



Pele recently said Messi needs to score as many goals as him before being considered football's greatest player. Who gets your vote as the best of all time?


Messi is the best player I've ever seen. Too young to be able to compare him with Pele.



What are your sporting passions outside football?



Golf, skiing, table tennis.



What's the secret to taking a good penalty?



As long as it goes in it's a good penalty in my book!



Finally, what does 2012 hold in store for Bournemouth and for you?



To get back fit. Playing and scoring consistently for Bournemouth.