CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe believes Ryan Fraser is ready to make his senior international bow for Scotland – as the Tartan Army gear up for a crunch World Cup qualifier with England.

The Aberdeen-born ace, who has represented his country at under-21 and under-19 level, has been tipped to feature in the vital Group F clash against the Auld Enemy at Hampden Park tonight (5pm).

Just days ago, Fraser earned praise from Scotland boss Gordon Strachan for his fearless approach and now Howe has backed the explosive winger to make the step up.

Asked if the 23-year-old could handle international football, Howe told the Daily Echo: "Without a shadow of a doubt. In the season just gone, Ryan proved, to himself more than anyone, how good he is. I think that was, potentially, the only thing holding him back.

"He is a really talented individual and a great player to work with. There is still a lot of development in him as he is still relatively young.

"I see the international stage as a nice step for him and if he shows his Bournemouth form, he can certainly impress at that level."

Fraser demonstrated his versatile nature when he featured in the number 10 role for Cherries in the final three games of the season against Stoke, Burnley and Leicester.

And Howe believes that adaptability could prove a useful tool for Fraser – and Strachan – where Scotland is concerned.

The Cherries manager added: "The beauty of Ryan is his versatility. Against Leicester, he played as a number 10 and was a real threat.

"When I first signed him, I thought I was getting an out-and-out winger. But he played up front for 20 minutes against Birmingham in the 8-0 game and was electric.

"It's not something we've worked on with him due to the fact we have a healthy amount of strikers.

"But out of necessity, in his past couple of cameos as a sub, and against Leicester from the start, he showed he can play that role. It's great to see him do well in another position."

If Fraser does feature against England, it would put to bed his undoubted disappointment at being cruelly denied the chance to play for his country in March.

The former Ipswich Town loan star had looked set to win his first cap when he was called into Strachan's squad for matches against Canada and Slovenia.

However, he was struck down by injury and missed the 1-1 draw with Canada at Easter Road and a 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Slovenia at Hampden Park.

England currently top Group F on 13 points, with Scotland fourth, some six points adrift of the Three Lions.

Fraser enjoyed a fruitful second half of the 2016-17 campaign after making his mark as a substitute in the 4-3 victory over Liverpool in December.

He started 19 Premier League matches, scoring three goals and winning no fewer than five penalties as Cherries secured a ninth-place finish.