JACK Stacey's former coach Martin Kuhl believes the defender's adaptability was a key factor behind Eddie Howe taking a punt on bringing him in from Luton.

Stacey, 23, arrived in July having featured regularly for the Hatters across the past two seasons, helping them clinch back-to-back promotions into the Championship.

Having initially had to bide his time, the ex-winger made his Premier League debut at right-back in victory over Everton in September and has gone on to play three more top-flight matches for Cherries.

Stacey dropped out of the squad following Adam Smith's return to fitness, but was back on the bench for Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Newcastle.

And Kuhl, who has known Stacey for 15 years since he joined the coach in Reading's youth set-up, feels the defender's background was attractive for Howe.

Kuhl told the Daily Echo: "I think he’s used to the style of play that Eddie plays.

"He’s been brought up at Reading doing it that way and the tempo that he plays and the way that he plays and the formations, I think he’s quite adaptable to that.

"He’s got an education on that so I think that’s one of the reasons why I’m sure the manager looked and thought he could do with someone like that."

Speaking in the summer shortly after Stacey's arrival, Kuhl said: "I think he’ll get better. I think he’ll adjust. I think Stacey is one who will go into a group of players and I think it’ll lift him.

"When you go in there with his enthusiasm and train with them day in, day out, the intensity and tenacity, technical ability and I think he probably won’t start off in the team but I’m sure he’ll get there and another thing is he can play in a variety of positions as well."