ANDONI Iraola believes Callan McKenna is a “really good signing” for Cherries, as he discussed the club’s ever-growing goalkeeping department under Neil Moss.

Cherries have five goalkeepers registered in their Premier League squad in first-team quartet Neto, Mark Travers, Andrei Radu and Darren Randolph, as well as development squad stopper Cameron Plain.

The club have also recently handed a new contract to Will Dennis, who is impressing out on loan at Kilmarnock.

Teenager McKenna joined the club earlier this month from Scottish side Queen’s Park, having featured for their first team this season, which made him the subject of plenty of reported interest.

Also on the books in terms of goalkeepers in the senior academy groups are Billy Terrell, Mack Allan, Noah Crisp and Will Seeley.

McKenna has already made his first appearance for the club's academy, starting in the 6-2 FA Youth Cup defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, just days after joining.

Asked where the 17-year-old fits into the goalkeeping hierarchy within the club, and how hard it is to manage such a big group of goalkeepers, head coach Iraola said: “It is always difficult in every position.

“Probably the goalkeeping area is a question more for Neil Moss. He is the one in charge.

“He is the one that has to be with them every day. They are probably taking the decisions who trains, how much and what exercises.

“But I think Callan is a signing that is not only for today, it is a signing for the future.

“He still needs some progression.

“I think it is a really good signing, especially from talking to Neil Moss, who is our specialist.

“He thinks he is a really good prospect and I hope he can evolve well and continue his progression.”

Former Cherries keeper Moss returned to the club as head of goalkeeping in December 2022, after a spell away following the appointment of Scott Parker as boss, who brought Rob Burch into that role.

Discussing the goalkeeping department, Iraola added: “In the end, I think it is the same as the other positions.

“There has to be competition. Everyone has to think ‘if my level goes down a little bit, I may lose my spot’. And ‘if I am the three, I want to be the two’ or ‘last week I was the four, this week I am the three’.

“There is a matter of this internal competition, but in the end, also there has to be a collectiveness between the keepers, to say the goalkeeping spot this season for Bournemouth has been really good.

“It is not only because of the one who starts more games. It is between everyone else involved.”

In terms of the first team this season, captain Neto has made 21 appearances, Radu five and Travers two.