CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe has urged Ryan Fraser to shake off the tag of promising youngster and prove he belongs in the top flight.

Scotland Under-21 international Fraser made his maiden appearance in the Premier League in last weekend's 1-0 defeat at West Ham United at London Stadium.

It was the 22-year-old winger's first outing for Cherries in 17 months following a loan spell at Ipswich Town in the Championship last season.

Fraser was troubled by injury problems during his stint at Portman Road but gave a number of impressive displays during his 21 appearances for the Tractor Boys.

Signed by Cherries from Aberdeen for £400,000 in January 2013, Fraser will hope to feature when his team travels to Crystal Palace this afternoon (3pm).

And Howe says now is the time for Fraser to show the substantial talent he believes the pacy wide man to possess.

Howe told the Daily Echo: “Ryan’s a player of outstanding potential but the key with Ryan is I don’t want to keep using the word ‘potential’. I want it to be seen.

"He did very well for Ipswich last year. We watched him on several occasions and he looked better than the level and now it’s up to him to prove it so fingers crossed he has a very good season.

“There’s a moment where you want youngsters to come out of that young player tag and become a normal player, judged the same as everybody else.

“I think the ability’s there, I’ve got no doubt about that. We see it on a regular basis. Technically he’s very good, he’s at a really high level and can play off both feet.

"I think there’s goals in him and I think he’s a creative player as well so he’s just got to deliver that. I can say it but he’s got to show it in games.”

Palace have a flying winger of their own in the former of Wilfried Zaha, while big-money signing Christian Benteke is in contention to start up front for the hosts.

Discussing Zaha, Howe added: “He’s a player I’ve admired for a long time.

"I think he’s a very talented guy, he has the ability to beat a player on his own and to swing games for you so we certainly need to keep him quiet.

"Benteke is an imposing character – you certainly know he’s on the pitch.

“As I say every week, every team has a player – and some teams have five or six – who can win a game for them.

“Our defence has conceded four goals in two games but I think it’s been pretty strong. We made bad errors for the goals but in general play we’ve looked pretty good.

“There’s certainly a lot to improve on but the margins are very small in this league and one mistake is usually fatal.”