CHERRIES boss Sean O'Driscoll believes Wade Elliott is struggling to live up to his star billing after becoming a "marked man" in Division Two.

But O'Driscoll - who has already dropped Elliott twice this season - is backing the Dean Court fans' favourite to emerge from his recent blip "a better player".

Elliott burst on the scene two years ago after joining Cherries from Bashley for £5,000 and made an instant impression by scoring on his full league debut.

And despite spending the opening weeks of last season as a squad player, Elliott never looked back after he was handed his first start at Brentford at the end of September 2000.

The gifted midfielder caught the eye with a succession of mesmerising displays, regularly running rings round defenders with his silky skills and nifty footwork.

He capped a remarkable season by winning the prestigious Daily Echo-Micky Cave player of the year award after firmly establishing himself as a first-team regular.

But after making 25 consecutive appearances this season, Elliott was surprisingly omitted from the Cherries starting line up at Northampton before Christmas.

And the 23-year-old again lost his place at QPR last week before he was substituted at half-time following an indifferent performance at Oldham on Saturday.

O'Driscoll said: "Wade knows he's not been playing well and, as a consequence, his confidence has been affected recently.

"He's been a marked man this season and sometimes he's been double-marked. He came from nowhere last season and teams didn't know how to deal with him.

"But you have got to give them credit now because there is no way any team is going to let him do this season what he did nearly every week last season.

"Sometimes we need to take him out of the firing line so he can recharge his batteries and get his appetite back. I know it will do him good in the long run.

"If we had a bigger squad, we would have rested him before and for longer. One of the reasons we signed JJ (Melligan) was to help Wade and try to give him a break, but it hasn't worked out that way because of injuries and suspensions.

"When we left him out against Northampton, the supporters gave us so much stick and they were clamouring for him to be put straight back in.

"They need to have a bit of faith in us because we are trying to do what is best for the club and what is best for the player. Wade needed a rest and he needed longer.

"He didn't play every game last season so this is his first full season and he has been finding it hard going. We haven't been able to treat him with kid gloves and it's going to be difficult for him because so much is expected of him.

"I know he will come good because he is a level-headed lad with an abundance of ability. Everybody is right behind him and we are all trying to do our best for Wade.

"Last season he experienced the highs and now he is experiencing some of the lows. It is a learning process and I know Wade will come through this a much stronger player."