EDDIE Howe welcomed the return of Max Gradel but insisted the winger still had “a lot of hurdles to overcome” before he could be considered for selection.

Gradel has been rehabilitating at his home in France after suffering a serious knee injury in only his fourth Premier League appearance for the club against Leicester in August.

Cherries’ £7million summer signing from St Etienne ruptured his cruciate ligament and has spent a painstaking five-and-a-half months working on his recovery.

Howe said: “It was really good to see Max. He has been away intermittently and it is really good to have a character like him back in the dressing room because he is infectious and positive.

“In terms of his injury, we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves. He still has a way to go before he will be available to play. He hasn’t kicked a ball in training for us yet so there are still a lot of hurdles for him to overcome before he is available for selection.”

Howe named Gradel in his re-declared Premier League squad alongside striker Callum Wilson who suffered a similar injury at Stoke in September.

“Providing they both stick to the schedules they have been given, Callum is going to be longer than Max,” added Howe.

“We are hopeful to get Callum available at some stage this season and Max hopefully a bit sooner. But we need to make sure the players are fit before getting them back.”