AFC Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has highlighted the impressive versatility of his Cherries squad, ahead of the trip to Leicester City on Saturday afternoon.
The Spaniard emphasised the importance of not limiting his players to certain positions, which in turn allows them to play more minutes, across a number of different roles
He said: “Versatility makes my job a lot easier because we don’t have a very big squad numbers wise, but I am comfortable with the size of it because I feel we have a lot of players who can cover a lot of different positions.
“For example, Dango (Ouattara) is not a left-back, but if we need him as a left-back then I am very confident he will do well.
“I encourage them (the players) to not limit themselves, if you limit your positions then you limit your minutes.”
Marcus Tavernier played in the number ten role during Monday night’s win against Southampton, but Iraola thinks the attacker can operate in a number of different positions.
He said: “I think he can play as a right winger, number ten, left winger, left back, and maybe even as a number eight.
“I am not going to limit him as he has the offensive quality, as well as the defensive work rate to play in many different positions.”
Alex Scott was another one in a more unnatural position on Monday evening, playing on the wing to help the Cherries protect their lead.
Iraola said: “They (Southampton) were losing and chasing the game and they left (Yukinari) Sugawara in a free role out on the wing, so I needed someone who would have the work rate to follow him and defend him.
“I think Alex did very well and did the job he needed to do in that moment.”
However, the Cherries' gaffer still believes that Scott’s best position is number eight, he said: “In the eight you have to attack like a ten and defend like six, for me Alex can do both.
“With more experience, I think he is becoming more comfortable in the middle, but we will continue to use him as a six, as a ten, as an eight, as a winger, and he can even play as a right back.”