RYAN Christie insisted it was “amazing” to have fit-again Junior Stanislas back in amongst it with Cherries and revealed how he had been tapping into the winger’s Premier League experience.

Having featured in the Dorset club’s two opening Premier League games this season, a groin injury saw Stanislas sidelined for two months.

He made his return to action in the 1-0 defeat to Southampton in October, before captaining and scoring during Cherries’ 4-1 Carabao Cup third-round victory over Everton.

Now 33, Stanislas has reached the top flight with Cherries on two separate occasions.

Asked what it was like working with Stanislas now he is fit again, former Celtic man Christie said: “First and foremost, to have him back is amazing.

“He has had a real tough time of it with injuries and setbacks, so straight away to have a player like that – you look at his career and what he’s done in the Premier League in the past.

“He’s had so much success in this league and scored big goals.

“To have somebody back like that in the squad is nothing but a positive.”

The former West Ham man has featured 144 times at England’s elite level, scoring 26 times and registering 15 assists.

Despite having played European football north of the border, this campaign marks Scotland international Christie’s first in the Premier League.

Quizzed on whether he could tap into Stanislas’s knowhow about the division, the Inverness-born star said: “Yeah, 100 per cent.

“I got that feeling straight away when I joined the club, even when he is injured and on the sidelines, he still contributes.

“I think everybody was delighted to see him come back – more games under his belt, he will just get better and better.”

Stanislas and Christie are both currently in Dubai as Cherries put in the hard yards in their mid-season training camp during the World Cup break.

Speaking to afcb.co.uk about his return last week, Stanislas said: “I feel good so let’s keep that going. I did some work during the break and we will have a lot of good work in Dubai as we build for the second half of the season.

“The injury was frustrating, probably more so than any other. We were back in the Premier League and I was getting some minutes on the pitch but then you get a setback.

“What can you do but work through it, get on with it and come back stronger.

“It was great to score against Everton and I always look for goals and assists. But, at the moment, I’m just trying to enjoy my football now I’m back and injury-free.

“I want to play as many minutes as I can and help the boys when I can.”

Cherries’ next test comes against Newcastle on Wednesday, December 21.