BOSS Andoni Iraola believes Ben Greenwood is “ready” to help fill Cherries’ left-back void, after the “good learning process” of first-team training.

Cherries’ development squad captain has been on the bench in recent weeks, following injuries to both Milos Kerkez and Lloyd Kelly.

Winger Dango Ouattara has featured at left-back in their absence for the past three matches, but is now set for a month away, competing for Burkina Faso at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Neither Kelly nor Kerkez are expected to be fit in time for Saturday’s FA Cup trip to Queens Park Rangers, which could open the door for Greenwood to feature.

The 20-year-old’s only previous senior appearance for Cherries came in an EFL Cup game away at Norwich City under Scott Parker in August 2022.

“Ben has been with us from pre-season,” Iraola told the Daily Echo.

“During the week normally if we don’t have any injuries, he trains with his (development) team, because at the end he has to play with them at the weekends.

“But all season he has been coming with us then going back with his team and he has been training really well.

“I think he has to improve and he has to use this training against this kind of opposition.

“When you are covering our wingers in training, I think it is a good learning process for him.

“I think he is taking these lessons. If he has to play, I think he is ready.”

Cherries also have Adam Smith and fit-again Max Aarons as full-back options.