READY EDDIE COOK THAT BEATING REALLY HURT ADMITS BIELSA
Howe rates defender Steve good enough for England
EDDIE HOWE is backing Steve Cook to follow Bournemouth team-mate Callum Wilson into the England squad.
Wilson became the first Cherries player to score for England when he marked his debut with the final goal in the 3-0 win over the USA last week.
Howe believes defender Cook must also have caught Gareth Southgate’s eye, saying: “I think he certainly would have a chance, whether that’s in the immediate future or the longterm future.
“He’s been the model of consistency for a period of time in the Premier League and there are not many English centrebacks performing at his levels.
“I’m sure he is in Gareth’s mind. You need a little bit of luck along the way to get that call but I think Cookie has been one of our most consistent performers. Representing your country is something you dream of and one of the ultimate goals in football. To do that regularly you have to be consistent at club level.
“Over the last few seasons he has become accustomed to the Premier League; the speed, the pace and the intensity of it. As a defender you are up against a different challenge every week.
“Athletically the forward players are so quick these days there is a big responsibility on the defenders. You have to be able to match that.
“Physically he has looked really good this year and mentally he has matured as the seasons have gone on.
“That is a natural evolution through age, that if you can you find thing things that work for you on a good level and I think he
has been in a good place.” Cook, 27, will get another chance to impress Southgate when Bournemouth welcome Arsenal to the South Coast tomorrow, looking to end the Gunners’ 16-match unbeaten run.
Howe has been impressed with the way Arsenal counterpart Unai Emery has seamlessly settled in at the Emirates.
He added: “Arsenal are on this really good unbeaten run, have adapted well to the new manager and played very well within that run.
“They have outstanding attacking players and a good look about their team, very balanced.
“The manager has done very well so far. I have never done it but I would imagine it’s not easy to go into a football club the size of Arsenal who have been used to one manager for so long.
“We’ve seen many people over the years who have found it very difficult, but he has come in and made an impact to the team, got results and individual players are doing well for him.” MARCELO BIELSA warned his stuttering Leeds stars that only a win against Bristol City will heal the wounds of a 4-1 thumping at West Brom last time out.
His side crashed to their heaviest defeat of the season at The Hawthorns to put fresh question marks over their ability to maintain a promotion push.
Leeds have tumbled out of the top two following a dismal run of only four wins in their last 12 Championship outings.
Bielsa (above) said: ”The defeat against West Bromwich was an injury we had to heal. We have gone through this process and you end the process when you have the next game coming up. It is the chance to forget that defeat.
“We had to draw conclusions from the mistakes we made in the last game that ended up hurting us so badly.”