BOURNE FOR THE TOP Mepham knows his pal Wilson is good enough for Prem

HARRY WILSON can show Jurgen Klopp he has got a real player on his hands by tearing Liverpool’s fiercest rivals to pieces this afternoon. Centre-half Chris Mepham gets to play with the on-loan Bournemouth star for both club and country this season and rates him highly. Wales international Wilson, 22, is playing in the Premier League for the first time after leaving Anfield on another short-term move. He has been loaned to Hull and Derby but is now getting his first taste of the top flight. Already he has found the net twice in this campaign and Mepham is sure his mate can hack it in the big time. Asked if he expects Wilson to thrive during this season, he said: “I think so. “He’s had two loan moves in the Championship and he did really well. “The question now is, ‘Can he do it in the Premier League?.’ “Already he has shown that he can with two goals in three games.

“It’s important for him to get regular game time and then who knows when he goes back to Liverpool?

“They are a top team, Champions League winners, so it’s going to be hard there but there’s no reason why he can’t make it.

“He’s a top player who has time on his side so hopefully he can progress with Liverpool and mostly with me at Bournemouth in the near future.”

Mepham joined Eddie Howe’s side in January in a £12million move from Brentford and has since shown his international team-mate the ropes on the South Coast.

“I’ve taken him under my wing,” added the 6ft 3ins defender.

“We see a lot of each other outside the training ground, we go out for coffees.

“He’s settled into a place which is good for him and he’s a really good lad.”

Everton travel to Bournemouth today boosted by a late 3-2 win over Wolves.

Mepham said: “I watched a bit of the game and they looked good.

“They have spent quite a bit of money in the summer and they are a team who should be threatening the top four or top six.

“I’m sure they will be there or thereabouts. The games don’t get any easier.”

Mepham was shown up by Jamie Vardy in Bournemouth’s previous game as they crashed to a 3-1 defeat at Leicester.

He said: “Some games you come away and don’t necessarily notice a massive step up from the Championship but in others – like against Vardy – you realise the difference. “On the whole, I’ve been really pleased. “I have a lot of areas I need to improve but fortunately I am playing regularly at the minute.”