Bournemouth

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Bournemouth winger Amine Adli says team-mate Eli Junior Kroupi "is a crazy talent" after scoring twice against Crystal Palace on his full club debut.

Stepping in to replace Evanilson, who was sidelined with a calf problem, he started up front and proved that age is just a number at 19 years old.

"He is amazing," Adli, who signed from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, told BBC Radio Solent. "From what I have seen since joining, when he is on the pitch he is going to score.

"He has flare and is a crazy talent at 19. Everyone saw the way the he can play [against Palace] and the club is making good progress with him.

"I am happy for him because he deserves it a lot. He's a striker with a unique style and he can be a playmaker too.

"The future is bright for him."

Listen to Adli's full interview on BBC Sounds

Bournemouth are prepared for more bids for forward Antoine Semenyo in future transfer windows. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer news and rumours? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Manchester City 2-0 Everton

• Crystal Palace 3-3 Bournemouth

• Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Andoni Iraola spoke to the media after Bournemouth's draw against Crystal Palace: "I think it has been an entertaining game, if we talk about football we were better in the first-half and they were better in the second-half. They punished us with their physicality.

"I cannot be happy, I am not please, I am upset and I am angry because of their goal in the 96th-minute, I cannot accept it.

"Not to win it because someone called a penalty and I think the VAR was influenced by the previous decision. That is the only explanation I can find.

"They were punishing us and it was a difficult moment when they scored to make it 2-2 but then we got it back and showed some character. To conceded like this id difficult.

On Eli Junior Kroupi scoring two goals: "For his confidence he is a very important player for us. Being so young and a starting option he is very composed. I am happy for him."

Did you know?

At 19 years and 117 days old, Eli Kroupi is the youngest player to score 2+ goals in a Premier League game since Evan Ferguson for Brighton against Newcastle on September 2nd 2023 (18y 318d) while he is the second youngest Frenchman to do so after Nicolas Anleka in April 1998 against Newcastle (19y 28d).

• Listen to Iraola's interview with BBC Radio Solent on BBC Sounds

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

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Boss Andoni Iraola is in his third season in charge of Bournemouth - and what a job he is doing.

The Cherries finished 15th, only five points above the relegation zone under Gary O'Neil in 2022-23, but since Iraola's arrival they have come 12th and ninth - their joint-highest finish in league football.

However, despite losing four key players in the summer - centre-halves Dean Huijsen and Illia Zabarnyi, left-back Milos Kerkez and winger Dango Ouattara, who moved in big-money transfers to Real Madrid, Paris St-Germain, Liverpool and Brentford respectively - Iraola has his side's fans dreaming of glory.

After Eli Kroupi's first goal, the away fans chanted they were top of the league, and then how they were going to win it.

While, it is far too early for any serious discussions like that, there is a real chance Iraola could guide Bournemouth to their best position and make them serious challengers for a run at securing European football, something they have never achieved.

Such has been their progression, they will be disappointed to leave south London with only a point.

With Evanilson out with a calf injury, Kroupi was handed a first Premier League start following his move from French club Lorient and put the visitors ahead after only seven minutes.

It came after Justin Kluivert's inswinging corner from the left caused problems and the ball bounced off Eagles defender Maxence Lacroix when challenging Antoine Semenyo in the air, dropping perfectly for Kroupi to head in from close range.

Semenyo was heavily involved in Bournemouth's second as he was too fast for Chris Richards down the left flank and his cross was not dealt with by England defender Marc Guehi, with Kroupi blasting home the loose ball.

After Jean-Philippe Mateta made it 2-2 the Cherries thought they had gained their fifth league win of the season when Ryan Christie converted from captain Marcus Tavernier's pass, only for Mateta to deny them the victory late on.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

What did you learn from Crystal Palace's display?

Have your say on Bournemouth's performance

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

It is same again for Crystal Palace with Oliver Glasner sticking with the same 11 that began the 2-1 loss at Everton on 5 October.

Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Munoz, Lacroix, Guehi, Mitchell, Richards, Wharton, Kamada, Sarr, Pino, Mateta.

Subs: Benitez, Clyne, Devenny, Canvot, Lerma, Sosa, Hughes, Esse, Nketiah.

Bournemouth, who could go top for a few hours if they win at Selhurst Park before Arsenal play in the later game, make three changes from the side that won 3-1 against Fulham.

In come Alex Jimenez, Eli Kroupi and Justin Kluivert and out go David Brooks, Evanilson and James Hill.

Brooks was captain on 3 October and with him missing, Marcus Tavernier gets the armband.

Bournemouth XI: Petrovic, Jimenez, Truffert, Senesi, Kroupi, Scott, Diakite, Adams, Tavernier, Kluivert, Semenyo.

Subs: Dennis, Araujo, Smith, Cook, Adli, Hill, Milosavljevic, Christie, Gannon-Doak.

There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Nottingham Forest v Chelsea (12:30)

• Brighton v Newcastle

• Burnley v Leeds United

• Crystal Palace v Bournemouth

• Man City v Everton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Sunderland v Wolves - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Fulham v Arsenal (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Fulham v Arsenal", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

What an absolute nightmare of a game this is to predict.

Two brilliantly coached teams, who are so well organised and in great form, and are capable of getting a result against anyone, home or away.

I could make a case for both of them to win this, so the easy way out would be to opt for a draw - but I can't go for another one of those, despite both meetings between the two sides finishing 0-0 last season.

Instead, I am going for someone to nick it. But who?

I might as well toss a coin here... but I am going to go with Antoine Semenyo to win it for Bournemouth, although you can guarantee that Palace will score in the first five minutes now.

Sutton's prediction: 0-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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Bournemouth midfielder Marcus Tavernier says team-mate Antoine Semenyo is "unplayable" right now.

The winger has already scored six goals in seven Premier League games and provided three assists.

Having lost a number of faces in the summer, Semenyo has been a key figure in helping the Cherries to keep up their impressive form of last season and take them to fourth in the league.

"No surprise at all [to see Semenyo's form]," Tavernier told BBC Radio Solent.

"He has come on leaps and bounds from the first time he came here. We saw that quality from the get go, but it just wasn't quite working for him on the pitch at the start.

"What he is producing now is nothing short of what he deserves. He is one of the hardest working people I have played with, always out there doing extras, you can see him doing his shooting videos as well.

"It is great for the team, and for him especially with the success he is getting out there now."

While the versatile 25-year-old has previously played in the central striker position, he has spent the majority of his time on the pitch this campaign in either the right or left wing roles.

When asked where he think's Semenyo's best position is, Tavernier responded: "He would probably say he could play goalkeeper as well!

"That is just Antoine. The way he is playing right now he is unplayable on the wing. I don't think there is anyone who can really mark him when he is on his game.

"When he is in that form, and the way he plays, he can produce anything from those wide positions."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Noel Sliney
BBC Sport senior journalist

The two Premier League meetings between Crystal Palace and Bournemouth last season finished goalless. A repeat is surely unlikely, with both teams providing plenty of entertainment during the current campaign and occupying top-six places before Saturday's encounter.

Crystal Palace have continued to build on last season's historic FA Cup victory and best ever Premier League points tally. Though their club record 19-match unbeaten run was ended by Everton before the international break, Palace's current streak of nine top-flight home games without defeat is their longest since 1990.

It is little wonder that club chairman Steve Parish is keen to keep manager Oliver Glasner, who is out of contract at the end of the season. "Oliver wants to win things, he makes no secret of that," said Parish last weekend. "So if we can align those interests then hopefully we can make something happen."

Palace have actually made the biggest improvement when comparing the current points tallies of Premier League clubs to this time last season. The Eagles have earned nine points more from their opening seven matches than they did during a sluggish start to 2024-25.

Bournemouth, along with Everton, are the next-biggest improvers among the 17 ever-present Premier League sides this season and last. They are six points better off after seven games.

Bournemouth are unbeaten in the league since an opening-weekend defeat at Anfield and went second in the table, albeit just for a day, after beating Fulham in their most recent fixture. It was their highest ever Premier League position after at least two rounds of matches.

The Cherries have spent 42% of their games in the lead, second only to Manchester City. Palace, who have been ahead for 39% of the time, rank fourth.

However, Bournemouth's away form is patchy. Their only two away league wins in the past nine attempts both came in London - against Arsenal in May and Tottenham in August.

Grace Wheeler
BBC Sport

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to BBC Radio Solent before Saturday's Premier League game against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park (kick-off 15:00).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Midfielder David Brooks is taking a small break after picking up an injury and Iraola said: "It's not the best moment, it's never a good moment to have an injury. I think Brooksy was playing really well and finding himself, he was in a great physical position. We will take his injury like a small break and in a positive way to come back with the same intent and condition."

• Defender Adam Smith is back training and Enes Unal returned to training after injuring his ACL twice in a year. Iraola said: "We will be careful and we don't want to make any mistakes in the recovery. He is feeling well and has been training with us during the international break. It is good because I see him smiling and in a better mood."

• Iraola also said the are "considering" Unal playing with the developmental squad.

• On Antoine Semenyo's excellent start to the season, Iraola said: "I hope we can keep him there because now he is full on confidence."

• Offering more on Semenyo's threat and ability to adapt, he said: "With his last performance everyone trying to limit his options. He has a good thing that he is playing with us on both wings. We have had the chance to play up front. I think he is better wide but he has done it internationally. So, I think it is better for us because the opposition can't plan where to defend against him."

Follow all of Saturday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Hear more from Iraola in his chat with BBC Radio Solent on BBC Sounds

Listen to live commentary of Crystal Palace v Bournemouth on Saturday at 15:00 BST on BBC Sounds

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

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The Premier League table is starting to take shape and while results are obviously what matter most, they don't tell the whole story in terms of how teams have been playing so far.

Expected goals (xG) tells us how much teams have been dominating games by creating lots of good chances up front and restricting opponents to few, bad ones at the back.

Penalties are excluded because they distort a team's numbers on how threatening or vulnerable they are in general, especially at this early stage.

Below is a graphic showing how good teams have been in attack and defence, with the most dominant teams in the top-right corner and the least impressive in the bottom-left corner.

Arsenal and Manchester City have been the most dominant sides, with the Gunners having the best defence and fourth-best attack and City the joint-best attack and fourth-best defence.

High-flying Crystal Palace are the only side to rival City's attacking threat, while Newcastle are living up to their name by being almost as impregnable at the back as Arsenal.

Both Manchester United and Chelsea have one of the top five attacks in the league but worryingly also rank in the bottom five defensively.

• Find and follow your Premier League club on BBC Sport

Liverpool's back-to-back defeats following five straight wins gives a more accurate picture of how they have been playing, while Tottenham have needed to be very efficient to make up for their lack of dominance in games.

Aston Villa's early-season struggles are no longer to do with finishing - they have now scored six non-penalty goals from an xG of 6.0 - but simply because they have not been playing well.

While promoted sides Leeds and Sunderland have adapted quite well to the top-flight, Burnley have struggled to make the jump so far with both the worst attack and the worst defence.

Read more on what expected goals tell us about the start to the season

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport senior journalist

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While most managers' primary hope during international breaks is that their players return unscathed, after intensive competitive games often bookended by long-haul flights, Bournemouth may have been grateful for the game time given to one squad member.

Ben Gannon-Doak has comfortably played more minutes for Scotland this season than he has done for the Cherries, coming off the bench against Denmark before starting twice against Belarus and once against Greece.

By contrast, the winger was substituted at half-time in his only Bournemouth start this season in the Carabao Cup, though he impressed when summoned from the bench against Leeds and Fulham.

He also recorded a first Premier League assist against the Cottagers, sprinting down the right as the Cherries counter-attacked after clearing a Fulham corner in stoppage time, before keeping a cool head to square the ball for the unmarked Antoine Semenyo to score.

There is fierce competition in Andoni Iraola's side for places in the wide positions, with Semenyo - one of the Premier League's players of the season so far - and the rejuvenated David Brooks currently in possession of the starting slots.

But, as has been well documented, Iraola encourages his wingers to run themselves into the ground for an hour or more before summoning their replacements, such as ex-Liverpool teenager Gannon-Doak and fellow summer signing Amine Adli, from the bench.

With a first-round Carabao Cup exit meaning no cup matches until January, some hard-fought battles in the Tartan Army's colours - with another two fixtures next month - may help build Gannon-Doak up to the levels he needs to play in Iraola's high-energy style.

He recently told the club website, external how he needs to work on his defensive attributes too, admitting: "I've realised now that's what is going to get me in the team."

Looking further ahead, Semenyo's early-season form will continue to generate more and more transfer speculation - although much of it will be baseless. However, it does feel increasingly likely this may be his last season in Bournemouth colours, despite penning a new contract.

The Cherries' recruitment team has been rightly praised for their summer transfer business, and in Gannon-Doak, there is a chance they may already have Semenyo's potential long-term replacement in the building.

Tom Jordan
Fan writer

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Bournemouth have been known for bringing in some exciting, young prospects in the past few years, providing the club with impressive squad depth and certainly helping the books with some healthy profits along the way.

As the International break is upon us, it looks as if the Cherries' recruitment team may have found another gem.

Julio Soler is a 20-year-old Argentine full-back who has been used as a back-up left-back to both Milos Kerkez and Adrien Truffert since joining. He is currently away from the club as he participates in the Under-20s World Cup in Chile, but he is getting on more than fine.

Soler has had the honour of captaining the Argentina side to the semi-finals of the competition, catching the eye with some impressive displays and making many a neutral believe they will end up victorious.

To be captaining his nation at such a young age will excite plenty of Cherries fans, added to the fact that the club have discovered many promising youngsters around the globe in recent times.

To come into Bournemouth as Kerkez's understudy was a solid start, particularly when you see the Hungarian's progression from when he joined the club to leaving for Premier League champions Liverpool.

He now sits as competition for Truffert, someone who has been capped by France.

There is clearly a nice pathway in front of Soler and it is definitely one to keep an eye on as Andoni Iraola's youthful squad continues to progress and impress the football world.

Find more from Tom Jordan at Back of the Net, external

Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo does have a release clause in his contract but the Cherries are keeping it under wraps because they want to hang on to the 25-year-old Ghana international who has been linked with Tottenham and Manchester United. (Talksport), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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The final part of our Q&A with BBC Radio Solent's Jordan Clark focuses on Bournemouth's academy, the stadium and Andoni Iraola's tactics.

Rob asked: If we were able to get into Europe for next year, is our stadium up to standard?

Jordan answered: As far as I am aware, Vitality Stadium would be able to host European football next season if required. I am sure there are a few boxes that Bournemouth would need to tick to keep Uefa happy, but I do not think there is anything that is unachievable.

The only thing I am not sure about is what impact the stadium redevelopment would have if the work is given the green light by the council.

Depending on how you qualify, European football can start quite early in the summer so that must be something the Cherries are currently having to consider.

David asked: When will Bournemouth's academy achieve elite status and how will that affect the value other clubs place on its output?

Jordan answered: Bournemouth have applied for category one status and are due to be audited this season. If they are successful in their application then they would receive their new categorisation for the 2026-27 season.

With the new training facilities now complete, you have got to think there is every chance they will be successful. There is no doubt it will have a positive impact on the way other clubs view the academy, but ultimately that will be dictated by the quality of player the Cherries produce.

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And finally, Clive asked: It took nine games for Andoni Iraola to get his tactics working in his first season. Do you think the reason players adapted was a willingness to learn? Do you think it is too big a risk to go to clubs where there is more player power or even resistance?

Jordan answered: That is a great question and not one that I'm even remotely qualified to answer with my Level 1 coaching badge!

What I would say is that when I have spoken to players about Iraola and his tactics, they all talk about how much they love that they are always on the front foot, always attacking and always trying to win games.

I know you want me to say he should stay at Bournemouth forever so he does not have to deal with player power at a big club (and I hope we get to watch his team in action at Vitality Stadium for a long time to come).

However, I cannot imagine even the world's best players would be against buying into a playing style that brings so much excitement week in, week out.

Scroll down this page to read the rest of the Q&A with Jordan.

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In the second part of our special Q&A with BBC Radio Solent's Jordan Clark, we focus on the future of Bournemouth's biggest stars so far this season.

Gary asked: Is a new deal for Marcos Senesi imminent or likely?

Jordan answered: Like with Andoni Iraola, talks are ongoing with Senesi over a new deal. I am told there is a quiet confidence among the club's hierarchy that he will sign a new contract.

He has had a brilliant start to the season so it is no doubt something Bournemouth will be keen to get done before January, when Senesi will be free to talk to clubs abroad.

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Tom asked: With the great start that Bournemouth have had, and in particular the form of Antoine Semenyo, do you think he will attract interest from other clubs in the January transfer window? If so, will Bournemouth feel like they would want to cash in or sell?

Jordan answered: There is going to be a lot of interest in Semenyo and it feels inevitable a time will come when he moves on for big money, but I would be really surprised if that is during the January transfer window.

He is under contract until 2030 and Bournemouth do not need the money so it would not make sense to sell their star man halfway through what could be another special season.

Look at the past couple of campaigns as an example: Dominic Solanke, Dean Huijsen, Illia Zabarnyi and Milos Kerkez were all sold in the summer so that the Cherries had time to properly replace them.

Also, Semenyo is an intelligent footballer. He is playing the best football of his career under a manager who has developed him into one of the most dangerous attackers in the Premier League. He is playing within a style and system that allows him to shine.

Why would he want that to risk that changing - especially when you consider he is going to want to carry that form into the World Cup with Ghana this summer, when he will have the chance to shine on the biggest stage?

Come back later on for the third and final part of the Q&A, which is all about Bournemouth's academy, the stadium and Iraola's tactics.

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On Monday and Tuesday this week, BBC Radio Solent's Jordan Clark is answering a selection of the questions you have sent in on Bournemouth.

First up is Peter, who asked: Is Andoni Iraola likely to sign a contract extension/are negotiations ongoing?

Jordan replied: Negotiations between the club and Iraola's representatives are still taking place at the moment. I believe Bournemouth owner Bill Foley is due to travel to the UK at the end of the month and I imagine a new contract for Iraola will be at the top of his agenda while he is over from the US.

I personally think this will be a difficult, but not impossible, one for the Cherries to get done and there will be a lot of factors in play. There's no doubt Iraola is happy and settled in Dorset but he is also ambitious and his stock is high.

We know from his playing days and his management career so far that he os a loyal and honest man, so I am not sure he will sign a new deal if he doesn't believe he will be able to honour it.

Bournemouth tried to get Iraola after they sacked Scott Parker but I am told he didn't want to leave Rayo Vallecano before the end of his contract, so the Cherries had to wait until his deal ended in the summer of 2023 to get him. There are probably only a handful of jobs he would leave Bournemouth for but if he thinks one of those could become available in the summer then we may see him hold off from committing to fresh terms.

On the other hand, we know Iraola was heavily influenced by his time playing under Marcelo Bielsa at Athletic Bilbao and like his former manager, Iraola favours short-term one-year contracts. You may remember a situation for Leeds in 2021 where Bielsa waited until his contract was nearly up before committing to a fourth season. I wonder if we might see something similar with Iraola.

He is loved at Bournemouth and has been heavily backed by the owner. With the new training ground completed, a redeveloped Vitality Stadium on the horizon and European football a possibility, I think there's every chance Bill Foley can convince him Bournemouth is the best place for him to continue to develop as a manager for at least another season.

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Wing asked: If Iraola does not actually sign the contract, is there likely a good succession plan in place to keep the club going from strength to strength?

Jordan answered: There is definitely a succession plan in constant development and the club will have a list of managers who they will be keeping tabs on. It is my understanding that list ranges from managers for the here and now, to young coaches who could become an option five years down the line.

The only problem is there are not many managers like Andoni Iraola around at the moment, so they may have their work cut out when it comes to finding someone to fit their blueprint and the playing squad they have built for his style of play.

Come back to this page on Tuesday for the second instalment in this three-part Q&A, which will focus on player contracts and the potential sale of a key player ...

Slobodan Maricic
BBC Serbia journalist

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Serbia are set to play one of the most important matches in recent years on Saturday - certainly the most crucial one so far in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

Their opponents are Albania, the main rival for second place in Group K, and a country with a long history of political tensions with Serbia, particularly because of the Kosovo issue and war.

The match was declared as high-risk and relocated from Serbia's capital to the southern city of Leskovac. This means it was also moved from Red Star's Rajko Mitic stadium, with a capacity of just over 50,000, to a much smaller venue with only about 8,000 seats.

No tickets were made available to the public. Instead, the nation's FA distributed them privately.

Bournemouth's 18-year-old defender Veljko Milosavljevic might find himself in the centre of it after getting his first ever call-up to the senior national team.

With Nottingham Forest's Nikola Milenkovic suspended after a red card in Serbia's heavy 5-0 defeat by England in Belgrade, his position in the heart of defence is open.

"They [Albania] are a good team, no doubt," Milosavljevic told the Serbian FA website.

"But I think we have better players, more quality and I believe we will show that on the pitch."

He had a lot of praise for Milenkovic, adding: "They say the Premier League is the toughest in the world. He came from Serie A, where he spent years at Fiorentina, and was well prepared for what awaited him in England."

However, when it comes to role models, Milosavljevic points to another Serbia defender - AC Milan's Strahinja Pavlovic.

"I really admire the way he plays, both for the club and the national team - with so much heart," Milosavljevic said.

And on Saturday, he might get the chance to play alongside one of his idols.

Slobodan Maricic
BBC Serbia journalist

Image source, Getty Images

"Everything happened so quickly."

That is how 18-year-old Bournemouth defender Veljko Milosavljevic sums up the whirlwind of recent months in his career.

After making the summer move from Red Star to the Cherries, and impressing in his debut against Brighton, the young centre-back has received his first call-up to Serbia's national team for matches against Albania and Andorra.

"I came through all the youth national teams, and now I'm a part of the senior squad. It's an incredible feeling," Milosavljevic told the website of his nation's FA.

Just a year ago, he played in Serbia's second division for Red Star's development team.

"There's not much time to adapt in football," he added. "As soon as you get a chance, you must grab it with both hands. I was lucky to do that and everything's been going to plan."

In one of his rare interviews - he has not really had time for many yet, that is how young he is - Milosavljevic recalls how proud he felt the moment he saw his name in the starting line-up against Brighton, which he described as "an unbelievable and unreal feeling".

Even though he missed the next two games and got only six minutes against Fulham, Milosavljevic is not concerned, adding: "I just joined the club, I'm working hard, making progress. The minutes on the pitch will come."

His team-mates are helping him a lot, he said, especially goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, as well as fellow centre-back Marcos Senesi, who has even learned a few Serbian words.

After the international break, Bournemouth will face Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City, when Milosavljevic might go up against the mighty Erling Haaland.

"I can't even describe how I feel right now," he said. "Not long ago, I was watching these players and the Premier League on TV and now I might play against them."

He is especially excited about the chance to face Liverpool, the team he calls "his favourite after Red Star".