Can Parker, Solanke and Bournemouth make their mark in the Premier League?

Bournemouth are back in the Premier League following two seasons away after securing automatic promotion from the Sky Bet Championship.

Scott Parker’s Cherries guaranteed their top-flight return after they beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 on Tuesday night.

Here, the PA news agency takes a closer look at some of the major questions facing the south-coast club.

Can Parker cut it in the Premier League?

The former Fulham boss now has two Championship promotions on his CV. He also has bags of Premier League experience as a player. Yet the 41-year-old – who swapped west London for Dorset last summer – has plenty to prove as a top-flight manager. Parker’s Cottagers won just five games en route to suffering relegation last season. His unconvincing overall record reads: played 48, won eight, drawn 13, lost 27.

What is the initial objective?

Survival. Bournemouth fans have fond memories of the Premier League having enjoyed five seasons there between 2015 and 2020, taking some notable scalps along the way and securing a top-half finish in 2017. Yet the club’s aim for next term will just be beating the drop. For all of their recent top-flight pedigree, the Cherries remain a club punching well above their weight.

Where do they need to strengthen?

Watford and Norwich have demonstrated just how difficult it is for newly-promoted teams to avoid relegation. Bournemouth undoubtedly need reinforcements in order to bridge the gulf in class. The delicate balance between sufficiently supplementing the squad without an influx of new talent proving detrimental is possibly Parker’s biggest dilemma.

How much financial backing will Parker receive?

That remains to be seen. Bournemouth are owned by Russian-born Maxim Demin. He is a UK citizen and has not