EDDIE Howe believes the return of Simon Francis to the squad has been "a huge lift for everybody".

The club captain returned to action during Wednesday night's Carabao Cup defeat at Burton Albion.

And Howe says his comeback along with Lloyd Kelly and Arnaut Danjuma at Pirelli Stadium has boosted the side ahead of tomorrow's clash with West Ham United at Vitality Stadium (3pm).

The Cherries boss told the Daily Echo: "They are three huge players for us.

"It's great to have our captain Simon Francis back (after) a long, long time out. I thought he did really well in the game with the stoppages, with the floodlights, we felt we had to take him off at that moment because he'd had quite a long delay in between.

"Then you fear him stiffening up and injuring himself. Lloyd Kelly returned and played some good minutes and Arnaut Danjuma made a good cameo. It's great to have all three players back."

He continued: "It makes the squad stronger, without a doubt. To have our captain back in our ranks is a huge lift for everybody and the other two players that we signed in the summer we've got really high hopes for.

"It's great for the group and I'm really excited by what lies ahead because if we can get a few more bodies back fit, we've got three or four quality players to come back in and make us even better.

"I think we're pretty much as we were. Of course you've got those (three) players back fit, but apart from that I think we're pretty much as we were before Southampton."