EDDIE Howe has been struck by Ryan Fraser's ability to "scare" defenders following the winger's first-team breakthrough this season.

Fraser was rewarded for his electric form this week when he received his first Scotland call-up and former defender Howe admitted he would not have fancied trying to stop the winger in full-flight.

Furthermore, the Cherries boss says it would be a mistake to paint the diminutive 23-year-old as merely a speed merchant, claiming Fraser has many more strings to his bow than that one attribute.

"Ryan has a massive heart," said Howe. "It shows the size of the player is not important.

"It is about the quality and he certainly has quality with both feet.

"He is a really good crosser of the ball. He is a goal threat and I think he is improving game by game.

"He has the ability to scare defenders... and he also has the ability to get our crowd on the edge of their seats and believing something will happen when he gets the ball."

Fraser has tormented some of the Premier League's best defenders since he rocketed to prominence with a game-changing display from the bench against Liverpool in December.

Most notably, he led Arsenal's excellent, rapid right-back Hector Bellerin a merry dance during a gripping 3-3 draw early in 2017.

Revisiting his playing days and contemplating the prospect of containing Fraser, Howe said: "There were a few things I didn’t like to face as a defender.

"Speed was certainly one thing that got my attention – and that still applies in the modern game.

"If you have that one key component in your game defenders are very aware of what you can do to them.

"Ryan has the pace but he also has the technique and the quick foot speed, and I think that is what sets him apart."

Fraser had to wait until this season for his first taste of Premier League football but has latterly made himself indispensable, starting each of Cherries' past 11 top-flight games.

The strides he has made since joining from Aberdeen as a raw 18-year-old in 2013 were recognised by the club when he penned a fresh three-and-a-half year contract in February,

"Ryan was young when he signed," continued Howe.

"He recognised he had some developing to do, physically, technically, in all areas of his game and went away and worked extremely hard."

Howe, meanwhile, did not wish to weigh into the debate stirred up by Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo escaping punishment for apparently stamping on Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard this week.

Cherries defender Tyrone Mings is currently serving a five-match ban after being charged with the same offence.

"It’s probably best I don’t get into it," added Howe.

"I’ll let everybody make their own assumptions on the two incidents and leave them to draw their own conclusions about one player getting a five-game ban and the other player getting nothing.

"Me commenting or going too deep into it isn’t going to do me any good."