BOSS Andoni Iraola believes the return to fitness of Tyler Adams “will help everyone”, adding: “His characteristics as a player fill a lot of the needs we have.”

Adams could make his Cherries debut off the bench in tonight’s Carabao Cup clash against Stoke City.

The USA international has been sidelined since March with a hamstring injury, picked up during his time at Leeds United.

Defensive midfielder Adams joined Cherries for around £23million, to fill the void left by Jefferson Lerma’s departure to Crystal Palace.

Asked how eager the 24-year-old is to make his Cherries debut, Iraola told the Daily Echo: “We have to take the decision, but I see that he is optimistic, he is feeling well, he is training well.

“He wants to help his teammates. I don’t know if he will be ready to play, but we will try to make him be part of the team at least and with the squad, if everything goes well.

“He hasn’t played a game since March, so we don’t expect he comes on day one and he is 100 per cent the Tyler Adams we know.

“But he is training really well. I think for sure when you sign for a new team, you want to be your best, give the best impression in the first games you play.

“I think you can feel this.”

Asked if he feels Adams will bring a different dynamic to Cherries’ midfield when he is fully up to speed, Iraola said: “Obviously for us it will be a good help, because also his characteristics as a player. I think they fill a lot of the needs we have right now.

“I think also Lewis (Cook) is playing very well in this position, as a number six, he is doing really well.

“But also having Tyler I think will help everyone.”