BOSS Eddie Howe hailed the return of experienced midfielder Andrew Surman and said: “The mentality of him is brilliant.”

The 33-year-old has been named on the bench for Cherries’ past two top-flight fixtures after missing six games with a knee problem.

But with as many as nine of his first-team squad still out with injury, Howe was happy to see Surman bring a “calmness” to Cherries off the field.

Asked about the former Southampton and Norwich man’s comeback, the manager said: “It’s massive. His knee feels fine, he’s got no problem with his injury.

“But to have him around the group. To have his knowledge and experience and almost his personality, because he’s such a level-headed guy, he has seen it and done it before.

“There is no extreme emotions with Andrew. He’s very calm and I think that’s what the players need.

“They need that confidence to see people like him. ‘How do we handle ourselves?’ he is the one to look at.

“He has been great on the training ground. We need to build his fitness up.

“He probably needs a couple of games to be where he wants to be but at the moment he is doing an invaluable job for the team.”

Surman is once again in contention to feature for Cherries against Burnley on Saturday (3pm).

Should he play against the Clarets, it would be his first competitive appearance since September.

Howe added: “It’s one of those things when you are a player. You look round and see Andrew and think ‘we’re okay’.

“He gives you that confidence, that calmness off the pitch. The mentality of him is brilliant.

“We are missing players with incredible attitudes and characters.

“Charlie Daniels and other players have been injured for a period of time, who have always set the standard of, not just the behaviour, but in terms of philosophy and understanding.

“Andrew is one of those players who is equally important to us.”