Woodgate: Show your Prem class

JONATHAN WOODGATE believes Bournemouth have the quality to grace the Premier League for years to come – but must prove it over the next fortnight.

The Cherries were relegated back into the Championship last term following five seasons mixing it among the big boys under Eddie Howe.

Having kept the majority of that squad together – and adding Jack

Wilshere along the way – the Dorset club are primed for a top-flight return.

Boss Woodgate (left) agrees to a point. The former Leeds and Real Madrid defender also insists there is a big difference between having the talent for the highest level and showing it over a sustained period of time.

He said: “People say we have a lot of Premier League players.

“But you need to have been there for five or six years to be called that.

Guys like Steve Cook and Adam Smith, they’ve done that. They’re Premier League players.

“But some of the others here haven’t been there for more than a year. Anyone can do a year in the Premier League.

“That’s why we need to get them back up because there’s no doubt about it, these players can play in the Premier League.

“They are good enough to be in it for the next five years.”

Woodgate, out of contract at the end of the campaign, has nothing but praise for Brentford, who lost to Fulham in last year’s play-off final at Wembley

The ex-Middlesbrough boss, 41, added: “They were the outstanding team in the division last time but fell at the final hurdle.

“That definitely makes a difference. They know what it feels like to lose there.

“But both teams are under pressure, even if they’re obviously the favourites.”