Howe: Jordan can blossom with Cherries

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe believes Corey Jordan has all the potential to blossom into a Premier League centre-back – though has preached patience after handing the 17-year-old his debut.

Jordan, who has been with the Cherries since he was a seven-year-old, was handed his first competitive start last week and it proved to be a tough one as Bournemouth went down to Preston in an extra-time EFL Cup defeat.

The teenager may still has some growing to do, but Howe believes he has an excellent chance of making the leap should he find his voice.

 (Photo credit should read JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP/Getty Images)

“He has a very bright future,” said Howe. “It’s very difficult for young players at Premier League clubs to make the breakthrough into the team. I’m not going to disguise that fact so he still has lots of variables which could happen from this point in his career.

“But as we stand now, he is a really good size, a very good shape and is still growing so I think he has got all the tools.

“He is a very composed footballer. He will probably need to improve aerially and become a bit more of a dominating presence in terms of his voice because as a defender I think that’s so important.

“There’s a couple of things he needs to add to his game but I think the rest is there.”