CHERRIES loan signing Joe Bennett revealed he had only learned of his last-ditch switch from Aston Villa after training with his parent club yesterday. 

The 25-year-old left-back was snapped up during the dying embers of the summer transfer window on the back of injuries to Charlie Daniels and Cherries' record-signing Tyrone Mings during Saturday's 1-1 with Leicester.

News of the move began to creep through less than an hour before the end of the 6pm cut-off alongside the announcement that Bennett had penned a one-year contract extension at Villa Park, immediately playing down speculation over anything longer term.

Bennett told Aston Villa's official website: "The manager (Tim Sherwood) and all the staff have been really encouraging.

"They believe the loan deal, and hopefully the opportunity to play regularly in the Premier League, will enhance my development and I feel the same.

"I'm really excited about the prospect of playing for Bournemouth and hopefully helping them perform well this season.

"They've already made a positive start to the new season and, like everyone else, I've been really impressed with the fantastic job Eddie Howe has done. They have a really good side.

"The move happened really quickly. I trained this morning and then things started to develop."

Bennett spent last season on loan at Championship club Brighton where he played 41 times, despite a mid-season change of manager.

He initially joined Middlesbrough as a trainee and made 85 league appearances during four years on Teesside before being snapped up by Villa in August 2012.

The Rochdale-born defender made a total of 30 Premier League appearances across two years, 25 of which came during his maiden campaign at Villa Park.