Bournemouth midfielder Andrew Surman has revealed that he needed teammate Tommy Elphick to keep him "switched on" during last week's win over Brighton & Hove Albion following a sleepless night after the birth of his first daughter.
Prior to the Cherries' 2-0 win at the Amex Stadium, the 28-year-old had about two hours sleep as his wife Laura went into labour with the couple's third child Lily on Thursday night.
Despite the disrupted preparation for the game, Surman informed manager Eddie Howe that he wanted to play and continue pushing the club towards Premier League promotion.
"I felt tired, but I think the main thing in that case is not so much physically, but mentally," Surman told reporters. "You have to stay switched on and focused. Midway through the second half Tommy was calling me, he was on me. I needed someone like that to give me that rocket."
Surman is also father to sons Alfie, six, and three-year-old Teddy.
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