AARON RAMSDALE

ONE of his brothers is a prison officer who knows his porridge from his oats, the other is an actor who appears in West End stage productions.

But Aaron Ramsdale, the youngest of three sons, only realised he was growing up fast when Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe (the pair, right) called him into his office – and complimented him on his complexion.

Howe is better-known for the Cherries’ slick football than dermatology, but the diminishing quota of spots on Ramsdale’s face was a sign that England’s Under-21 keeper was learning to look after himself off the pitch.

“When I was on loan at Wimbledon last season, that’s when the penny dropped,” said Ramsdale, 21.

“They were the only club in the country without a full-time kit man so I had to wash my own kit. I had to mature quickly because I had no choice.

“I hadn’t been doing myself any favours – I would train well all week, go out on a Saturday night and then on the Monday morning I would be rubbish, all over the place.

“The inconsistency was driving me mad, and it was only when I took a step back from the big nights out, and realised they were not helping me, that I got my act together.

“Spending too long on the Xbox at home is definitely better than being out until six in the morning, put it that way.

“Last May, I had a meeting with the boss before our final game of the season and he complimented me on how good my skin looked, how fresh I looked. I used to be quite a spotty kid, and some of that was down to my lifestyle and the rubbish I ate on nights out. But I think he was trying to tell me that I was finally growing up.”

Ten years ago, the Cherries were rattling collection tins to stay afloat and Sheffield United were heading for lower-division obscurity.

Now it is a top-flight fixture and a showcase for the two best young English keepers in the country in

Henderson.

‘Rambo’ cannot wait to renew acquaintances at Bramall Lane, where he cut his milk teeth under Blades messiah Chris Wilder’s tutelage before Howe snapped him up for £1million as an 18-year-old prospect three years ago.

“There’s no getting away from it – Deano’s had an outstanding season,” said Ramsdale. “For a newly-promoted side to have kept so many clean sheets in his first season of Premier League football is a fantastic achievement.

“I owe Sheffield United so much. They were the club who took a chance on me. As a boy, I was a West Brom fan through family allegiances. But as a club, Sheffield United is in my blood now and I’m a Blade at heart as well.”

A couple of sorely-needed home wins – Ramsdale was outstanding against Brighton last month – has broken the Cherries’ freefall towards the drop.

But if they need to hold their nerve on the run-in, Rambo will recognise the

Ramsdale and

Dean