BOSS Eddie Howe is convinced Cherries will be a “tighter group” and “better squad” following their “first-class” trip to La Manga.

Cherries returned to England yesterday after spending 10 days being put through their paces during a training camp at the Spanish resort.

They flew back to continue preparations for the new season at Vitality Stadium having triumphed 4-3 against La Liga outfit Levante in their second friendly.

Howe’s squad opened their warm-up campaign with a 1-1 draw against Sevilla eight days ago and followed it up by beating a second Spanish opponent.

Reviewing the training camp during an interview with afcbTV, Howe said: “It has been really tough. We have really worked the players again, as we have in the past.

“We haven’t given them too much free time and, sometimes, we have had three sessions a day. We have tested them in a different way with the team-building exercises.

“We go back a tighter group and a better squad for the experiences that we have had. The facilities and everything that we have been able to do have made it a first-class trip.

“The players have been prepared to give anything a go. We have done loads of team-building exercises and, sometimes, when challenged, some players tend to shy away from a moment that they may not feel comfortable in. We haven’t had that once with a player on this trip.

“The lads have thrown themselves into everything and have wanted to win. That deserves a lot of recognition and it will serve us well moving forward.

“They have mixed really well together and have done everything as a group. We have had no groups going off as threes or fours, so they are certainly good signs.”

First-half goals from Emerson Hyndman, Jermain Defoe and Jack Simpson saw Cherries reach the break on level terms with Levante before Lewis Cook's stunning late strike earned them the win.

Howe added: “It was a strange one. There is a lot to look back at and reflect on. I was pleased we scored four goals but disappointed to have conceded three.

“We made a really fast start and that was reflected in the way in which we have trained. We then had a bit of a strange period where we just lost our control.

“I thought it was a real test of our character when we went 3-2 down. The pleasing thing was that we came back and won the game.

“We weren’t at our fluent best with the ball and were open to the counter-attack. We made a few individual errors during the first half. But we are at an early stage of pre-season and are building to where we want to be.”

Cherries continue their friendlies with an away double-header against Championship opposition – travelling to Bristol City on Friday and Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

And they complete their games programme against Real Betis on August 3 and Marseille on August 4, both at Vitality Stadium.

Howe confirmed striker Callum Wilson had not faced Levante after feeling unwell.