CARDIFF City boss Neil Harris insisted Cherries full-back Brad Smith had “worked extremely hard to get up to speed” despite not yet featuring for the Bluebirds.

The Australian international agreed a loan deal until the end of the season with the Championship outfit but is yet to make his debut after almost a month with the Welsh side.

He has not been selected by Harris for five games since his arrival, Cardiff have 12 fixtures of their campaign remaining.

"Brad has worked extremely hard to get up to speed," Harris said last week ahead of his side’s 2-0 defeat at Stoke.

"It's not just fitness-wise, it's building up an understanding of the way we play, combinations with wide players and centre halves around them, getting to know the group culturally.

"They (Smith and Dion Sanderson) have trained really well and they are really, really good lads. They have definitely improved us as a group.

"We really look forward to seeing them in a Cardiff City shirt."

Penrith-born Smith rejoined training with Cherries in January before joining Cardiff - following a successful loan spell with Seattle Sounders, where he lifted last year’s MLS Cup.

Smith, 25, joined Cherries from Liverpool for around £3million in 2016, but has featured just 11 times for the club in all competitions.

His last outing for Eddie Howe’s side came against Wigan Athletic in January 2018, where he was substituted at half-time in a 2-2 draw.