Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook tipped for the top by manager Eddie Howe after starring against Leicester

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Eddie Howe believes Lewis Cook can go right to the top after the midfielder starred in Bournemouth's draw against Leicester City.

The highly-rated 20-year-old has had to be patient since a £7million move from Leeds United last year, but was handed a first Premier League start on Saturday and impressed with his performance. 

'The sky's the limit for him,' Howe said, 'more displays like that, he's only going to go one way. He does things on the pitch that surprise you. He's got an eye for a pass that's slightly different to the other players we have. 

Eddie Howe believes Lewis Cook can go right to the top after he starred against Leicester

'He's certainly got a creative eye: he can play a defence-splitting pass, create chances from nothing, has got a lovely way that he drives the ball through midfield.' 

Cook told Sportsmail after their pre-season friendly against Napoli that he harbours England ambitions. Last season he did not let the loan signing of Jack Wilshere from Arsenal, who played ahead of him, get him down.

This season the more experienced Andrew Surman, Harry Arter and Dan Gosling have been picked ahead of Cook in central midfield but with the latter two struggling with injury the youngster was given his chance and took it well.

The highly-rated 20-year-old has had to be patient since a £7m move from Leeds last year

'A lot of players in his position would have been disappointed, or at times stopped learning, developing, because they don't see a pathway for them to get into the team,' Howe said. 

'Lewis is not that type of character: he's a hard worker, he's diligent, wants to get to the very top, and displayed the attitude that will help get him there. He's been very good: even this season he's not been a minute's problem.

'In the situation that he was in last year – we made him aware when we signed him, there may be a period where he has to wait to get into the team and we're going to develop him behind the scenes – but he took that situation really well, and has done that this season. 

'He's a very level-headed guy; you never see him get too high or too low and that's a real key part of his character.'