CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe has praised Sam Surridge and Matt Butcher for putting in the hard yards after the pair both signed new deals last month.

Wimborne-raised striker Surridge is midway through a season-long loan with Yeovil and has also spent time at Weymouth and Poole.

Midfielder Butcher is currently with his parent club but enjoyed a stint at Yeovil last season, with Gosport, Poole and Woking his other loan clubs.

Both players will remain with Cherries until at least June 2019.

Howe told the Daily Echo: "I'm pleased with them. They have earned their new deals. It's very difficult when you go to the lower leagues as we found when we were that club taking players on loan.

"A lot of young lads you get in from Premier League clubs can find the transition difficult but I am really pleased that these players have gone out, done the hard yards, performed well to this point and shown great attitudes while doing it."

Asked if it was tough to keep up with the progress of Cherries' loan players, Howe added: "It is very difficult, especially in periods when we have a lot of games.

"It is sometimes difficult to pick up the finer details but you get a consensus and certainly there is an interest from my perspective to know how they are doing."