ALEX Scott said he was “grateful” to teammate Enes Unal for support he has shown him off the pitch in recent months, adding: “He’s been massive for me.”

Highly-rated Scott joined Cherries from Bristol City in August, while Unal arrived in February from Getafe.

The pair have shared the pitch for just 143 minutes so far, both often watching on from the substitutes’ bench.

But Scott revealed Unal, who scored on his first Premier League start on Sunday, has had a big influence off the pitch in Dorset.

The 20-year-old told the Daily Echo: “I’m buzzing for Enes.

“He’s been brilliant in training and in the games when he’s come on as well, he has been very good.

“He’s helped me so much as well off the pitch.

“That’s sort of a side people haven’t seen to him, but he’s been massive for me.

"When I was having a bit of a tough time not playing, coming off in a few games at half-time, he was massive for me and I was grateful to him for that.

“So I’m so happy to see him get his goal. I’m just gutted he couldn’t put the one away where I set it back for him!”

Asked what sort of advice former Manchester City man Unal has provided Scott, the England under-21 international added: “Just a lot of reassurance.

“He saw in the days after I was a little bit down and he just spoke to me and he doesn’t want to big me up too much, but said ‘you know how good you are, there’s no reason why you need to be upset about it or be a little bit down. Forget about it, you’re young and it happens to every player.’

“Little comments like that from your teammates go a long way.

“So I was grateful to him for speaking to me and he’s a top player and fitted into the group so well.”

Turkey international Unal, 26, is set to become a permanent Cherries player next season, following the expiration of his loan deal.

After a spell out of the side, Scott was back in the starting line-up for back-to-back games last week – a 1-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers and 3-0 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion.

“The Wolves game was a good one for me,” said Scott.

“Even before that, he (Unal) spoke to me before the game and told me ‘build your way into the game’.

“I think he sees the potential in me as well, so he’s trying to help me as much as he can.”

Scott and Unal will hope to start alongside each other again when Cherries face Premier League leaders Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Saturday (12.30pm).