AFC Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola on Milos Kerkez
CHERRIES boss Andoni Iraola does not fear burn out for starlet Milos Kerkez but admitted that the young left back will make mistakes in his debut season in the Premier League.
So far this term Kerkez has started every Premier League game under Iraola, despite only being 19 years of age.
Since making his debut in September 2022, the Hungarian international has amassed 10 caps for his country, and is expected to add another tomorrow night when Hungary face his country of birth, Serbia in a key European Championship qualifier.
Having played in all 10 fixtures this term, Iraola was asked if there was a risk of running Kerkez into the ground due to his tender years.
However, Iraola pointed out with left-back cover Lloyd Kelly currently injured, there was little choice.
He told the Daily Echo: “Especially now with Kelly out, we don’t have someone specific to cover for him but I think he’s doing well.
“Obviously he’s 19 years old. He will make mistakes.
“He has to because it’s very difficult to be playing in the Premier League, being 19 years old. But we have to also consider a lot of things that he gives us.
“I think his energy, his pace, he is covering well against difficult wingers. He knows he has to improve.”
Iraola then went on to highlight areas requiring his improvement, before insisting that he was looking forward to helping Kerkez develop as a player.
“He has to focus 90 minutes.
“It’s not easy to be fully focused all the time, to not make the mistakes.
“But I think it’s a process that we are more than happy to have with him because we think he is a very good player.
“We are we are happy to grow with him.”
Kerkez and co.’s first Premier League fixture back after the international break sees Cherries welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to Vitality Stadium on Saturday, October 21.
Gary O’Neil’s Wolves side are five points and five places above Cherries in the Premier League table.
