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'Always excitement' for Iraola working with new, young players in Cherries squad

In fact, four teenagers have made their debut for the club this term, in Ben Gannon-Doak, Veljko Milosavljevic, Junior Kroupi and Rayan.

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Twelve members of the current squad are among the 20 youngest players to play for AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League, with Andoni Iraola handing debuts to ten of them.

Iraola has spoken about seeing this season as a rebuild, as they replace and move on from the key players that departed the club in the summer.

Ben Gannon-Doak. (Image: Richard Crease)

But the boss said he enjoys the challenge of integrating young players into the group, and, while he admitted there is often question marks over performances and consistency, there is excitement in equal measure.

In January, for instance, the club brought in 19-year-old Rayan from Brazil and 20-year-old Alex Toth from Hungary, alongside 24-year-old keeper Christos Mandas, on loan from Lazio, all of whom are young players in their position.

They have joined the more established young players this season, like Alex Scott (22), Kroupi (19) and Alex Jimenez (20).

Asked about the excitement of bringing in such young players, Iraola said: “I think there is always, when you sign new players, everyone is excited to see how they are.

Alex Toth. (Image: Richard Crease)

“With Alex Toth, with Rayan, with Christos if he plays, because there is this excitement about the new faces, always.

“But the same way they've done very well or they are doing very well, they will have also poor games and that doesn't mean they are not good enough.

“It's a process, but it's true that right now we are a very young team with a lot of new faces and there is a lot of question marks.

“Sometimes the uncertainty can be because you don't know if it's the level. It can be better than expected, it can be worse, but there is something like different.

“So when it's different, there is always some excitement.”

Rayan. (Image: Richard Crease)

Iraola also said it was a learning experience for him as a coach: “For me, I am discovering things every week.

“Sometimes you start Rayan and you don't really know how he's going to play, if he's going to get all the instructions, if we are going to suffer there defensively. And I'm getting this information.

“And when we start Alex Toth, it's going to happen the same. When we start Christos, it's going to happen a little bit the same.

“So it's also a challenge for me to get these players into the group that is working together and yes, it's something different.”

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