CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe has reached agreement with Tottenham Hotspur to extend Adam Smith’s loan until the end of the season.

The 19-year-old defender will remain at Dean Court under the terms of his existing youth loan arrangement, subject to Football League approval.

Cultured right-back Smith has made 16 appearances since joining Cherries in September and has been pivotal to their impressive showing in League One.

The teenager has continued to grow in stature and turned in two eye-catching displays during the festive wins over Swindon and Brentford.

Smith, who progressed through the ranks at White Hart Lane, spent time on loan with both Wycombe and Yeovil last season.

Cherries boss Howe told the Daily Echo: “It’s very good news. Adam has been excellent since he has been with us. He has integrated really well into the squad and the team. He is a good personality to have around the place so we are delighted to keep him. He is improving all the time. He has had a couple of previous loan spells but this is the most he has played at this level. He is still young and it is a big ask, especially physically.

“But he is adjusting to the demands and is adjusting very well to them. We have had a lot of games recently and he has continued to improve. Hopefully, he will continue to improve while he is with us and I think he is a good prospect.

“We are in regular contact with Tottenham and speak to Tim Sherwood and Kevin Bond about his progress. We send DVDs of every game to them so they are kept up to date with how he is doing and I’m sure they are as pleased as us.”

Howe, who reported no fresh injury concerns following a hectic festive schedule, added: “We are lucky to have some very good defenders at the club. Our strength in depth in certain areas is emphasised by the fact good players like Stephen Purches and Warren Cummings are not able to get a game at the moment. When everyone is fit, we are blessed with a really strong defensive line and it is so important that any successful team needs to be good at the back. We are delighted with how we are shaping up defensively.”

Meanwhile, Cherries defender Mitchell Nelson is pondering the prospect of extending his loan spell with Conference outfit Eastbourne Borough into a third month.