JEFFERSON Lerma has been selected in multiple Premier League teams of the week by pundits, following his brace against Leeds United.
The Colombia international scored two goals in a game for the first time in his Cherries career, setting his side on the way to a 4-1 thumping of Javi Gracia’s Whites.
The win means Cherries are all but guaranteed of another season in the top flight, sitting nine points clear of the relegation zone with just four games to play.
The 28-year-old, who is out of contract in the summer, has again been a key figure for Cherries this year, starting 33 of the club’s 34 top-flight games.
And pundits Harry Redknapp and Garth Crooks were both impressed by Lerma against Leeds.
Making his weekly selection for BBC, Crooks said of Lerma: “His first goal was an absolute peach and his second sealed the points for Bournemouth against Leeds and secured another season in the Premier League.
“Jefferson Lerma has seen the Cherries through some difficult seasons at the Vitality Stadium but, since the arrival of manager Gary O'Neil, life has become considerably easier and 39 points on the board with four games to play makes the case.
“The Colombia international looked as imposing as I have seen him under the new managerial regime and Bournemouth seem to have found another Eddie Howe in manager O'Neil.”
Meanwhile, former Cherries boss Redknapp said in his role for BetVictor: “Jefferson Lerma was terrific again for Bournemouth.
“I’ve loved what I’ve been seeing from this side in the last few weeks and that was another great win at the weekend. Lerma got things started with two good finishes.
“The first goal was a lovely goal, a controlled finish into the top corner. It’s been the best scoring season of his Bournemouth career, every credit to the lad for working on that side of his game.”
Crooks XI: Pickford (Everton), Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Dunk (Brighton), Lindelof (Man Utd), Eze (Crystal Palace), Gross (Brighton), Lerma (Cherries), Odegaard (Arsenal), Alvarez (Man City), Wilson (Newcastle), Undav (Brighton).
Redknapp XI: Iversen (Leicester), Estupinan (Brighton), Shaw (Man Utd), Lindelof (Man Utd ), Trippier (Newcastle), Zaha (Crystal Palace), Paqueta (West Ham), Lerma (Cherries), Jones (Liverpool), Wilson (Newcastle), Alvarez (Man City).
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