EDDIE Howe says young defender Corey Jordan is taking his “first steps” on the road to recovery from a serious knee injury.

The 18-year-old was hurt in the latter stages of Cherries under-21s’ 4-0 victory over Sampdoria in March.

Jordan had been enjoying an impressive campaign and sampled a brief taste of first-team action during Cherries’ League Cup defeat by Preston.

Howe told the Daily Echo: “Corey is okay. It is very early stages for him. When anyone is in this position, suffering from a long-term injury, you feel for them in the early part of their recovery. It is a slow process and it can feel like you are making no progress. But the reality is you are, it is just very slow.

“The physios are looking after him and he is making his first steps back.”