ADAM Smith insisted added competition at right-back "doesn't faze me", describing the latest rival for that position in Ethan Laird as a "great talent".

Laird joined Cherries in January on loan from Manchester United, on a deal until the end of the season, at which point Smith was battling back from a meniscus injury.

However, fitness issues have hampered the 20-year-old, restricting him to just two substitute appearances so far for his new club.

Smith, who has recently resumed the starting right-back role ahead of Jack Stacey, spent a lot of time in the gym with Laird as the pair both recovered from injury at the same time.

Asked for his thoughts on Laird and the added competition he now provides, Smith told the Daily Echo: "Really, really nice kid. He’s a great talent.

"We’ve got three right-backs, so it’s competition. It’s healthy competition.

"It doesn’t faze me, it doesn’t faze Stace, or Ethan, it’s going to improve all three of us.

"The same on the left, you’ve got Leif (Davis) and JZ (Jordan Zemura). I can play left-back.

"So it’s all about competition and it’s only going to help the squad isn’t it? That’s what it’s about.

"If you look at the best teams, the Man Citys, they’ve got two players in every position, it’s healthy. It will just keep us on our toes."