CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe admitted he had been encouraged by Ryan Fraser’s eye-catching progress during his loan spell with Ipswich.

Fraser has made a huge impact since joining the Suffolk outfit at the start of the season as part of the deal which saw Tyrone Mings move in the opposite direction.

The flying winger, who joined Cherries in a £400,000 deal from Aberdeen in January 2013, made 21 appearances – including 15 from the bench – in the Championship last season.

Scottish under-21 international Fraser has netted six times in 21 games for Ipswich and was crowned Football League young player of the month for August.

Fraser, who penned an improved three-year deal with Cherries in August, has helped the Blues sustain a promotion push during his time at Portman Road.

Howe told the Daily Echo: “I am really pleased for him. I felt it was just what he needed to get games, to become hardened to playing every week and to be exposed to the league.

“I didn’t feel we could guarantee him that and it would have been no good him playing bit-parts from the bench for us for 10 to 15 games.

“We felt this move would be really beneficial for his development at a good club with a good manager. We have been very pleased with his progress and we keep very close tabs on him.”

Fraser trained with Howe’s squad as he regained his fitness after suffering a knee injury while on international duty with Scotland under-21s. He spent 12 weeks on the sidelines.

Howe added: “It was good to see how he had progressed as a player and we are very excited to see him next season.

“We gave him a long-term contract and we believe in him. This loan was only about him being ready for us in a future date.”