Eddie Howe is unable to offer Northern Ireland defender Jamal Lewis any assurances on his future beyond this season.
The £15million signing from Norwich City has barely figured this season despite injury problems for Matt Targett and he could leave this summer. Lewis has been back on the bench in recent games but has both Dan Burn and Targett ahead of him in the left-back stakes.
When asked about Lewis' future, Howe said: "The future is a little bit unclear for him. He’s very much a valued member of our squad at the moment. I’m very aware I’ve not been able to give him the football he wants this season but I would say his game has developed behind the scenes.
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"The work he’s put in behind the scenes every day to improve himself with the coaches here has been brilliant to see. His game has been in a really good place, just I haven’t been able to give him the opportunities to show that.
"He’s someone we value and believe. As I sit here now, I don’t know what the future will hold for him next year."
When asked why Lewis has not featured too much, Howe said: "It’s amazing how fate shows its hand. I think he played at Liverpool and played a couple of previous games and was in good vein of form and helped us to our first win over Burnley.
"But then he pulled his hamstring and it meant we were really light in that position so we recruited Matt [Targett] and now Dan’s stepped up this year. There’s real competition for places in that area, which has been great for me personally but obviously more difficult for Jamal to deal with. But I have to say, he’s acted impeccably."
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