Andoni Iraola of AFC Bournemouth on Adam Smith surpassing 350 games.

CHERRIES boss Andoni Iraola labelled Adam Smith as “very important for the team” as the veteran approaches his 350th appearance for the club.

The right-back captained the side on Wednesday night as Cherries fell to a 2-1 defeat in Smith’s 349th game as a Cherry, and could be in line to hit another major milestone if he plays some part in Saturday’s trip to Manchester City.

Vice-captain at the club, Smith’s tally of appearances stems from an initial loan spell in League One, before he joined the club permanently in January 2014.

Currently the longest-serving member of the squad, Smith helped Cherries achieve promotion to the Premier League on two occasions, and is currently only behind Steve Cook (387) and Steve Fletcher (490) for most appearances for the club.

Asked about Smith and his role at the club, Iraola told the Daily Echo: “I think it’s someone that is very important for the team.

“We can see it from day one. The way he trains, he has had an injury.

“But I will say something strange on him, because he also wanted to keep pushing through the injury.

“He didn’t stop at first.

“It was a matter of ‘okay, Adam, you want to continue, but we have to take you out because it’s becoming dangerous.

“And I think it’s a good thing also for a team that has so many young players.

“I mean in his position, in other positions.

“He is someone who is has always been reliable and he’s the first one he knows he has to push for his minutes.

“He has a strong competition now with Max. But in either scenario he’s training to help the team.”

Iraola was also a loyal right-back during his playing career, reaching 510 appearances for childhood side Athletic Club before playing one final season in the USA with New York City.

Asked if there were any further similarities, Iraola replied: “No – okay, there are similarities.

“We played with the same number, same position.

“But I think we were different. Probably he has been during his career, more physical, up and down all the time.

“Physically very powerful.

“I was kind of a different type of right-back, but it is true that you can see that he has the experience, the number of games he has played.

“He knows what the team needs in every situation.

“And it’s not easy to play so many games. He has played at the top level and we have to value it here.