Surprise deal imminent? - Friday morning press conference features new contract hint

After failing to play a single minute of Premier League football all season, many expected Paul Dummett to depart this summer.

He's out of contract at the end of the season and is way down the pecking order at the back. However, Eddie Howe's comments in today's press conference suggest he'll be sticking around for at least another year.

When asked if the 31-year-old had a future at the club this morning, Howe had this to say:

 "Yeah, very much so. He's somebody we value highly. I see Paul as part of our future.

"When you build a squad, you're never going to be able to play everybody within that squad for the amount of time that maybe they want to, so you need players that are prepared to fight for their place, train really well and have a really good effect on the group."

He's featured just once all season, playing 90 minutes in our Carabao Cup win over Tranmere, yet Howe speaks like a man who plans to hand the defender a new deal.

Many are wondering why? We know he's often spoken highly of Dummett's experience and influence behind the scenes, but the face we have to register four academy trained players in Europe could be a key factor behind this.

Howe went on to discuss Dummett's role in the squad - along with Matt Ritchie - and spoke highly of his fitness levels; something that had been an issue previously:

"Matt Ritchie, Paul Dummett, they're players that, although they haven't necessarily performed for the outside world, they've performed for us internally. They've both been excellent..

"Paul's been really good, fitness-wise. He's had a really consistent run of training, hasn't missed a day in a while. I think any player benefits from that consistency.

"He's a very, very good player, Paul, and, I think, the beauty of it is that he can play in a couple of positions for us. It's great to have a player who's got that experience and ability.

"Yes, he hasn't had an opportunity yet, really, to get a run in the team because of the consistency of the other players, but he's someone we valued very highly as a player, person (and) professional.

"I was gutted I couldn't get him on the pitch (against Southampton). Time ran out. It was just a little show from me that he's very valued here."