BOSS Eddie Howe hailed the way Aaron Ramsdale had stepped up to become Cherries’ first choice keeper and added: “To this point he has been magnificent for us.”

The England under-21 stopper had been enjoying his breakthrough Premier League campaign this season before the game was halted due to COVID-19.

Having made his top-flight debut against former club Sheffield United back in August, the Stoke-born star has gone on to make 28 league appearances for Howe’s men.

Speaking about Ramsdale on talkSPORT, manager Howe said: “Aaron has been the big surprise – I don’t want to say surprise because I really think he’s an exceptional goalkeeper.

“But to everyone else a surprise because they wouldn’t have heard too much about him prior to this season.

“He has accepted the challenge brilliantly for a young goalkeeper, which is probably the hardest position to blood young players in.

“He has taken that responsibility and never looked back. To this point he has been magnificent for us.”

Ramsdale penned a new long-term contract at Vitality Stadium in October 2019.