SIMON Francis heaped praise on team-mate Nathan Ake and added: “I can see him having a top career.”

The Cherries skipper was picking a team of players who had impressed him the most during his time in the Premier League.

He selected Ake at centre-half alongside the 25-year-old’s Dutch international team-mate Virgil van Dijk.

Ake has played 115 times for the Dorset club in all competitions, having signed from Chelsea for £20million in 2017 following a fruitful loan spell.

Writing in the Sun, Francis said: “I’m putting in Nath as he has been an ever-present for us and our best player for a few years.

“When he first signed on loan from Chelsea he was not in the team straight away and I don’t think he or the manager knew his best position. He used to prefer playing holding midfield.

“He can do everything now and though it’s hard for me to say, I can see him having a top career at one of the big boys — I just hope it’s not any time soon!”