Full guide to Cherries' pre-season plans as Marco Rose begins Dorset tenure

THE Cherries are set to play five games and go on a European tour this summer to prepare for Marco Rose’s first campaign in charge at the club. With the players back in Dorset as testing began yesterday, here is your complete guide to AFC Bournemouth’s pre-season plans. When does pre-season start? Much of the squad were due to return to the performance centre yesterday for testing, ahead of pre-season beginning in earnest on Monday. But not all the players will return this week, with those who have been away on international duty this summer, whether that is in friendlies or at the World Cup, coming back later. Their return and pre-season schedule will depend on how long they were with their national team for. Where will the Cherries be going on tour? Bournemouth will be heading to Austria, close to Marco Rose’s old stomping ground in Salzburg. They will be based in the Austrian Alps for their training camp, as training for the season continues to ramp up. How many games will they play in Austria? The Cherries will play two games while out on tour, which will be Rose’s first two in charge. They will first face St Pauli, who were relegated from the Bundesliga last term, on Friday, July 24. Then, they will play Augsburg on the final day of the camp, Thursday, July 30. Both games will be held at the Saalfelden Arena. How many games will they play once they return? There will be a further four friendlies once the Cherries return from Austria. They will first face Genoa on Tuesday, August 4 at the performance centre, before a trip to Seville to face Real Betis on Saturday, August 8. They will head to Mainz on Saturday, August 15 for the final two games, as they face Mainz in a behind-closed-doors game in the morning before a public match in the afternoon against their hosts. Can fans attend the pre-season friendlies? Yes, they can – although not all of them. The game against Genoa at the performance centre and the morning friendly against Mainz will both be behind closed doors. Ticket information can be found on the AFC Bournemouth website. How long is it between the final game of pre-season and the opening match of the Premier League? Once they finish in Mainz, Bournemouth will have eight days to prepare for their Premier League curtain raiser. They travel to Manchester City on Sunday, August 23. AFC Bournemouth’s pre-season schedule in full: St Pauli – July 24, Saalfelden Arena, 4pm. Augsburg – July 30, Saalfelden Arena, 4pm. Genoa – August 4, AFC Bournemouth performance centre, 2pm. Real Betis – August 8, Estadio de La Cartuja, 8.30pm. Mainz 05 – morning of August 15, Mainz (behind closed doors). Mainz 05 – August 15, Mewa Arena, 3.30pm.