ALEX Scott still has room to improve but the Englishman has played an important role for Cherries so far this season.

Scott started the opening game of the season at Nottingham Forest but has since been used off the bench against Newcastle, Everton and Chelsea.

The 21-year-old also started away at West Ham in the Carabao Cup.

Ahead of the Liverpool game at Anfield, Scott led the Premier League in ground duels won per 90 minutes, winning an average of 14.67 duels.

This shows he has been effective at breaking up play in midfield, allowing Cherries’ forwards to exploit spaces in the opposition’s defence as games get stretched towards the end of the 90 minutes.

(Image: Richard Crease)

The Daily Echo asked Andoni Iraola about what he asks for from the England U21 international when he comes off the bench.

Iraola explained: “I think we played a very good 60 minutes against Chelsea. Very, very good.

“Then we started naturally, we started a little bit to decline and to defend a little bit lower than we were doing before.

“We lost, I don't know, 5/10 metres. And it gives them a little bit of more breath and they felt less the pressure and I made the change [to bring Scott on] just because of this.

“I felt that we were already losing a little bit of the duels and we needed some energy.

“We couldn't alter this scenario, I think in the second half even if it was quite level the game.”

(Image: Richard Crease)

The Basque boss felt Scott gave a solid showing against the Blues, although Cherries fell to a late defeat through a Christopher Nkuku goal four minutes from time.

Iraola said he feels that the Englishman has had good games so far this season and that he must continue to ‘play as he knows’.

“I don't ask very different things, you know, we know his level, he trains well, he's very committed defensively also because we know his quality on the ball and I think he has played every game,” Iraola said.

“He has been involved in every game and he has to continue.

“It's like all the young players, like I say a lot with Milos, with Zaba, luckily for them it's not the end product.

“He still has room for improvement and he has to continue adding things to his play.”

Guernsey-born Scott joined AFC Bournemouth from Bristol City in August 2023 for a fee of £20million, with a further £5million in potential bonuses, after he was named Championship young player of the year.