GARY O’Neil enthused over the quality of summer signing Marcus Tavernier – sharing how he was “really pleased” with the Leeds-born midfielder.

Tavernier arrived on the south coast from Championship outfit Middlesbrough in July, and has since started each of Cherries’ seven Premier League games, missing just 24 minutes out of a possible 630.

Adept on either wing or in the centre of midfielder, Tavernier has established himself as first-choice on the left wing.

Former Portsmouth midfielder O’Neil believes the 23-year-old has brought something different to the Cherries team.

Speaking on the former England under-20 international, O’Neil detailed: “Really pleased with him, gives the group loads.

"He gives us maybe some qualities that we’ve maybe lacked in the past a little bit.

“He’s a real good player. He’s really important.”

Yet to open his account in red and black, Tavernier has recorded the most shots inside the box for Cherries’ in O’Neil’s three games in charge.

O’Neil restarted: “Assists and goals? I mean, he’s played big parts in the results we’ve had, so I don’t think there’s too much to look into with those.

“He has good quality on his left foot. He arrives in good areas, gives us big energy, so really pleased with where he is.”