Bournemouth’s Cook hails boss Howe despite lack of match action

Midfielder Lewis Cook has hailed Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe for improving him as a player, despite his lack of first-team action at the Vitality Stadium this season.

Cook joined Howe’s men in a £7 million summer switch from Championship outfit Leeds United, and started the opening game of the campaign against Manchester United.

However, the 20-year-old has not featured in the league since that day, until coming on for the injured Jack Wilshere in the Cherries’ 4-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

Three months of this absence was due to an ankle injury picked up in October while on England under-20s duty.

Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images

But despite admitting going through a difficult time in his first Premier League season, Cook has heaped praise on his manager for the work he has done with him.

“We have so much strength in depth and everyone is capable of playing. I have just been trying to train as well as possible and waited for my chance,” said Cook, who could enjoy a late run in the team with Wilshire ruled out for the rest of the season with a fractured leg.

“The manager helps me in training all the time. He tells me what he wants me to do and how I can improve.

“I am thankful to him for that and feel I have improved a lot. Hopefully, I can get the chance to demonstrate that in matches now.

“We have another big game coming up against Middlesbrough on Saturday, so we will analyse what happened against Spurs and then move onto that one.

“If I get my chance to start, I get my chance. I will have to see what happens.”