NATHAN Ake revealed how waving goodbye to a fringe role at Chelsea had kick-started his career and admitted: “At some point, you have to go for yourself.”

The Cherries defender is set to face his former employers at Stamford Bridge on Saturday (3pm).

He agreed a permanent deal to join the Dorset club for £20million in June last year, following a successful loan spell at Vitality Stadium.

In his first full campaign with Eddie Howe’s men, the Dutchman was instrumental in helping Cherries to a 12th-place finish in the top flight.

Having featured in every league fixture, Ake swept the board at the club’s end-of-season awards, including landing the prestigious Daily Echo/Micky Cave supporters' player-of-the-year trophy.

He also found the net in a memorable 3-0 triumph at Chelsea in January.

The 23-year-old told the Daily Echo: “Sometimes, maybe it is easy to stay at Chelsea, be around the team and not play. You can still say ‘I play for Chelsea’.

“But at some point, you have to go for yourself. You have to change your career and change your dreams.

“I knew this club, knew the manager, the players and knew what we could do. It was massive for my development. I was so happy with the step I made and I’m still happy now.”

Ake played 10 times in the Premier League during a fruitful temporary stint with Cherries in 2016-17 before he was recalled in January.

Following his return to Stamford Bridge, he featured just twice in the top flight as well as playing three games in the FA Cup – but was not involved in the final against Arsenal.

The former Feyenoord youngster was awarded league recognition during his final season with the Blues, who went on to win the crown.

But the classy centre-half admitted he had preferred to remain in the background during the title celebration.

“To go back and not play was a bit disappointing,” he added.

“I would have wanted to play a little more. I didn’t but, overall, I still learned a lot from going back to play under Antonio Conte and being around the Premier League-winning team.

“I got a medal in the end. Not at the same time as the other players because I didn’t play the five games but they sent me one.

“It’s not the same as if you played every game, so I didn’t celebrate as loud as the others who had struggled the whole season to get the wins. I came for half a season and didn’t play a lot.

“I couldn’t be on the front row, I just stayed behind a bit. It was a bit different but I was still happy.

“It’s nice to go back. To see all the staff and players at the Bridge will be good but once the whistle goes, I am a Bournemouth player.

“This season is a new season and, maybe with more expectations now, it’s a bit more pressure. So far it’s been okay and we just have to keep going.”