CAPTAIN Simon Francis believes the influx of youth in the Cherries squad this summer has given the club's experienced players an extra spring in their step.

Permanent signings Jordon Ibe, Lys Mousset and Emerson Hyndman are all 20 years old, while Lewis Cook is 19 and Chelsea loan ace Nathan Ake is 21.

Francis is one of Cherries' more experienced heads at 31 and he admits the new arrivals have injected fresh impetus into the squad.

He said: "I think I speak on behalf of the older lads when I say the youth and hunger the manager has brought in keeps us on our toes.

"It's great seeing the youth come in and seeing how we were when we were that age and having that hunger.

"It rubs off on the other lads, including me. I see the younger lads working hard and it keeps me on my toes and makes me want to work hard as well.

"That can only benefit the whole squad."

Reflecting on how the new recruits had settled in, Francis added: "They have been great. We're an easy bunch to come into, to be honest.

"It might have been a little bit different when I first signed. Things have changed a little bit since then.

"But Bournemouth has always been known as a good group of lads, an open group of players and a family club.

"I think it will be easy for the lads to integrate and get to know each other like we did when we were in America."