ANDONI Iraola was full of praise for Dean Huijsen after an assured Premier League debut vs Nottingham Forest.

The 19-year-old centre-back joined AFC Bournemouth this summer from Juventus and started the league opener at the City Ground.

He looked confident throughout the game, and put in a strong performance, largely keeping Forest forward Chris Wood quiet.

Huijsen had played in both pre-season friendlies since joining the club, starting vs Rayo Vallecano and coming on during the first half for Marcos Senesi vs Girona, after the Argentine picked up a knock.

But he played the full 90 minutes in Nottingham, after the Cherries boss confirmed that Senesi was ill with a temperature that kept him out.

Speaking to the media after the game, he said the young centre-back’s composure was almost ‘strange’ for such a young player to possess at this stage of his career.

“We were confident that he has the level, but it is not easy to come here and play at 19 years old with this atmosphere that Forest create very well,” Iraola said.

“To have Chris Wood fighting with you, fighting for the areas, for every cross, I think he defended really well.

“With the ball, we know that he has the composure, the calm, even strange for someone that is 19.

“It’s a very good thing for him and especially for the team.”

Huijsen’s first performance and start at the club will pose an interesting selection headache for Iraola, as he, Illia Zabarnyi and Senesi aim for the two starting berths.

Zabarnyi looked solid in the Forest draw, alongside the standout teenager, but Senesi should be available for selection once again for the Newcastle game next weekend, provided he has recovered from his illness.

Fellow new signing Julian Araujo, who signed from Barcelona last week, made his Cherries and Premier League bow as a substitute, coming on for Adam Smith with 63 minutes played.

(Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)

The 23-year-old was an energetic introduction, bombing down the right side of the pitch and helping contribute to the Cherries attack, something which Iraola said was needed.

“I think it was needed, some change of pace because we started feeling that some players were starting to get tired,” he said.

“I think he has this physicality, to provide these up and down runs, overlap, he was combining well with Ant[oine Semenyo].

“He arrived a lot even inside the box, he had a couple of situations that he couldn’t finish, but I think he was good, considering it was his first minutes.”

Cherries will host Eddie Howe’s Newcastle next Sunday, which could see a trio of new signings in Huijsen, Araujo and new striker Evanilson make their first home Premier League appearances.