GARY O’Neil believes Jaidon Anthony has had a “very successful first Premier League season”.

It has been a rapid rise for the 23-year-old, who just three years ago was out on loan at non-league Weymouth, helping them clinch promotion from the sixth tier.

The talented winger played a bit-part role for Cherries the following campaign, before starring under Scott Parker in the Championship last season.

Anthony missed just one league game in 2021-22, starting 38 of the 46 fixtures, providing eight goals and six assists.

With the arrival of Marcus Tavernier, Anthony has found starts harder to come by this term under O’Neil, but has still played a big role.

The former Arsenal youngster has played 27 Premier League matches in his first year at this level, starting 10. He has netted three league goals and provided an assist.

With his contract winding down, Anthony penned a new deal in February of this year, which runs until the summer of 2027.

“I think he’s had a very successful first Premier League season,” O’Neil told the Daily Echo, when asked about Anthony.

“Last season was obviously an incredible success for him, from the journey that he’d been on through youth set-ups and academy, to come into a team trying to get promoted and to have the impact that he did was incredible.

“To take that on again this year and record some decent numbers around assists and goal involvements and chances created that he has, still shows his quality every day.”

Previously seen as one of Cherries’ main attacking outlets, Anthony has at times this season been utilised as a wing-back, adding more defensive responsibility to his game.

“I don’t see us using him overly differently,” said O’Neil, discussing Anthony’s role on the pitch compared to his time in the Championship.

“Of course, we’ve been at the different end of the league, which means we have a little bit more defending to do than we did last season.

“And then occasionally, you’re right, we lost Tav for a long spell and I do like someone being able to do that role within the squad where you’re attacking player, but you have some sort of responsibility to sometimes turn us into a back four-and-a-half type thing, which Tav is very good at and Dango (Ouattara) is also very good at and Jaidon was used in that a few times.

“He’s so diligent, so hard-working and then still brings you the quality going forward that he has no problem with it.

“I’m sure if you ask him, after the end of the season, when he’s reflected, he’ll be really happy with the first season that he’s had in the Premier League, because it’s a tough step up.

“I expect more from him again in the next few weeks and especially next season.”