AFC Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe has been pleased with winger Ryan Fraser’s progress during his season-long loan with the Blues.
Howe allowed the Scotland U21 international to join Town on loan as part of the deal which saw Tyrone Mings move to Dean Court for an £8 million fee in the summer.
"I am really pleased for him,” the Cherries manager told the Bournemouth Echo. "I felt it was just what he needed to get games, to become hardened to playing every week and to be exposed to the league.
"I didn’t feel we could guarantee him that and it would have been no good him playing bit-parts from the bench for us for 10 to 15 games.
"We felt this move would be really beneficial for his development at a good club with a good manager. We have been very pleased with his progress and we keep very close tabs on him.”
Fraser, 21, signed a new three-year deal in August and Howe says he’s very much part of his plans for campaigns to come.
"It was good to see how he had progressed as a player and we are very excited to see him next season,” he added.
"We gave him a long-term contract and we believe in him. This loan was only about him being ready for us in a future date.”
Fraser suffered a hamstring injury late on during Town’s 1-0 defeat at QPR on Saturday and manager Mick McCarthy is likely to reveal the extent of the problem at his pre-match press conference on Thursday.
Meanwhile, former Blues trialist Jerome Thomas is training with Rotherham United. The 32-year-old spent a week with the Blues but wasn't offered terms.