CourtOffside understands that the Football League have finally given clearance for Lyle Taylor to sign for the club, making him available for this weekend's match against Notts County - although he is unlikely to feature as he continues his recovery to full fitness following an injury sustained in pre-season.

The 20 year old striker plundered 34 goals in 44 appearances last season for Concord Rangers in the Ryman League Division One North - step four of the non-league pyramid - following his release from Millwall. Whilst some national papers have stated that Taylor has been signed as Brett Pitman's replacement, Eddie Howe has stated the opposite and feels that Taylor is a player to develop for the future and that fans shouldn't expect too much too soon from the youngster.

Welcome (officially) to AFC Bournemouth Lyle.

Notts County upset pretty much everyone in League Two last season by driving a coach and horses through the division's salary cap rules and cheating their way to the title. A certain antipathy grew between Bournemouth and County in that time which led Chairman Eddie Mitchell to describe the clashes with the East Midlands side as a "grudge match" - but following County's arrival back down to earth with a bump at the beginning of this season, much of that venom is sure to have abated - especially given the pleasing news that the oxygen thief Lee Hughes won't be disgracing our pitch with his presence this weekend. While he may have served the prison term laid down for him, it doesn't seem that society in general feels his debt has been repaid. The only thing that has surprised us this week is that County haven't signed Marlon King to partner him. Yet.

However while the absence of Hughes will gladden our hearts, every silver lining has a cloud and Bournemouth fans are sure to give John Spicer a warm welcome back to Dean Court. Cherries supporters haven't forgotten the disparaging remarks that Spicer made about the club that gave him his Football League debut when he used a get-out clause in his contract to force a cut-price move to Burnley in 2006. It's funny how Burnley just happened to know the exact amount they'd need to offer to land him - not a hint of an illegal approach there of course. Pure coincidence. Spicer decried the team for whom he has scored half of his (ahem) massive haul of 12 career goals as not being a "proper club". He then went on to get splinters for 3 seasons on Burnley's "proper bench", seemingly spending more time playing in goal than in their midfield - followed by two seasons warming Sean O'Driscoll's "proper dugout" at Doncaster. Released by SOD, County plucked him from football's "manager's specials" bin in the summer and have given him the chance to revive his flagging career. Great.

County midfielder Ben Davies will be the one to watch on Saturday - a talented lad as it is he will have extra motivation as Derby have been watching his performances and are expected to table a bid before deadline day. It's very much a day in the shop window for him.

County lost their two opening league fixtures to fancied sides Huddersfield and Oldham but turned it around with a home win over Dagenham and Redbridge last weekend. A win over Championship Watford in midweek will have given them confidence ahead of the trip South - but The Cherries' decision to opt out of the later stages of the Carling Cup mean that they will be better rested for this clash as a result.

There's unusually no new injury worries for Eddie Howe with long term absentee Mark Molesley still unavailable along with medium term wounded Steves Fletcher and Lovell.

The Cherries early season form will have raised a few eyebrows in League One and after the hammerings dished out to Peterborough and Tranmere we may see County come down and play a little more cautiously than we would perhaps like them to. Expect a tight game, Spicer to get booed and booked and a generally edgy afternoon for all.

Prediction: 1-0
Referee: Danny McDermid

Addendum: It now seems as if Hughes may be fit after all.. oh well. Let's just hope he's not driving himself to the ground, and no members of Oldham's club staff are on the premises.