EDDIE Howe admitted Diego Rico faced “a few hurdles” during his first season in English football – but insisted: “He’s got the ability to play in the team.”

Left-back Rico made 16 appearances for Cherries in his debut campaign in 2018-19 after arriving for a £10.7million fee from La Liga outfit Leganes.

However, a potential consistent run in the side came to a halt in early April when he sustained ankle ligament damage in the 3-1 defeat against Burnley – just days after team-mate Charlie Daniels suffered a serious knee injury in training.

Cherries on Saturday strengthened their options at left-back with the signing of England under-21 Lloyd Kelly from Bristol City. Discussing Rico’s performances for the Dorset club before Kelly’s arrival, Howe told the Daily Echo: “He’s done okay. It’s difficult to adapt. I think for Diego slightly with the intensity and physicality of the division.

“The Premier League is very different to other leagues but he has got the technical quality and he has got a lovely left foot. He’s got the ability to play in the team.

“He would have been frustrated, I am sure, that he has not played a little bit more but there is still plenty of time for him to do that.”

After making his debut in August’s Carabao Cup clash against MK Dons, Rico, who penned a four-year contract last summer, did not feature in more than four consecutive games throughout the campaign.

Quizzed on the importance of giving players time to adapt to a new environment, Howe said: “People do take different times to fully adjust and understand but it is not just on the pitch, it is off the pitch, it’s the language barrier etcetera, so there were a few hurdles Diego had to overcome.

“I think he was on his way to doing that.

“There is no doubting his quality technically, he had a few things to improve defensively that we’ve worked with him on and I’ve got no doubt, with the opportunity, he would have done well but it probably needed a run of games to fully feel comfortable in the team and get to know his team-mates fully.

“That is going to have to wait until next season but there is certainly something there and we will continue to work with him.”

The 26-year-old’s family have made regular visits to Dorset and Howe said they would be important to him as he completed his recovery from injury.

“He does have a lovely family,” said Howe. “They’ve come over to visit him regularly and he’s very tight with his family, as you’d naturally assume.

“What you’d love to see is Diego come back fully comfortable in the environment and fully part of the team with the ambition to show everybody just how good he is.”