EDDIE Howe insisted he would love to blood youngsters in Cherries’ first-team – provided they were up to the task.

With his side already safe from Premier League relegation with three games of the campaign remaining, the Cherries boss did not rule out giving opportunities to potential rising stars in the club’s system.

But with a club record top-flight points haul still up for grabs, Howe admitted any youngsters had to show they were worthy of minutes at England’s elite level.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Southampton (3pm), Howe said: “I’d love to integrate young players into the team but they have to be good enough. They have to be at the level.

“It’s something we will look at and take on an individual basis.

“Possibly between now and the end of the season we would have an opportunity to do that but not to the detriment of the results or team.

“If the players are good enough, we’d love to push them through.”

Howe himself came through the system at Cherries, graduating through the set-up in 1996.