ASSISTANT boss Jason Tindall has revealed Cherries are unlikely to bolster their defensive resources ahead of the transfer deadline due in part to the form of Baily Cargill.

The teenager turned in an assured display on his home debut as Cherries eased into the third round of the League Cup with a 3-0 victory over Northampton on Tuesday.

Cargill, who also caught the eye during the first-round win at Exeter, has been on the bench for Cherries’ past two Championship clashes against Nottingham Forest and Blackburn.

The 19-year-old has gone up in the pecking order due to Elliott Ward’s absence, with a knee injury expected to keep the experienced defender on the sidelines for an extended spell.

Described by Tindall as an “outstanding prospect with a very bright future”, Cargill has impressed the management staff since being fast-tracked to the first-team squad at the start of pre-season.

Tindall told the Daily Echo: “We would have no hesitation in playing Baily. He came in against Northampton and produced another really mature performance.

“We wouldn’t want to bring in somebody just for the sake of it and don’t feel we need anybody anyway when we have players like Baily and Jake McCarthy, who is waiting in the wings and developing really well training every day with the first team.

“We also have the luxury of Simon Francis and Ian Harte being able to cover in that position so we don’t feel there is any desperate need to sign a centre-half because we have a strong and flexible squad.”

Tindall said Francis, who has missed the past three games with a hamstring injury, was expected to return to full training today and could be in contention for Saturday’s trip to Norwich.

Meanwhile, skipper Tommy Elphick, who looked on from the bench as Steve Cook partnered Cargill against Northampton, also heaped praise on his young team-mate.

Elphick told the Daily Echo: “Baily came back fit and strong at the start of pre-season and the manager said he would have no qualms in playing him if he didn’t think either myself or Cookie were deserving of a place.

“Nobody is guaranteed a place and we know Baily is breathing down our necks. That is all down to him and the work he has put in and the improvements he has made.

“When you get someone who is as good as Baily, you want to see them coming to the fore at 19 or 20 and banging the door down to be playing in the first team. He has certainly shown he is capable of that.

“He had a couple of good loan spells last season and is a credit to himself, to Stephen Purches and to the youth team coaches who have worked with him to make him the player he is today.”