IT IS perhaps fitting that Milos Kerkez cites N’Golo Kante as one of his footballing idols.

The Frenchman arrived into the Premier League in 2015, playing a key role in Leicester City’s fairytale title victory in his one season at King Power Stadium.

A move to Chelsea followed where he continued to rack up the trophies, leaving Stamford Bridge this summer after a seven-year spell where he lifted the Champions League, FA Cup, Europa League, Super Cup, Club World Cup and the Premier League once again.

Kante also won the World Cup and Nations League with France in that time.

Bournemouth Echo: N'Golo Kante enjoyed a stellar career in EnglandN'Golo Kante enjoyed a stellar career in England (Image: PA)

Going back to 2015, the midfielder quickly earned a reputation as an energetic player who was seemingly making an impression all over the pitch.

When Kante was stunning the world by winning the Premier League with the Foxes, watching on as a child back in his small hometown of Vrbas in Serbia was a 12-year-old Kerkez.

Just six games into his time at Cherries, he too has been making a big impression wherever he goes, be that on the pitch, in the dressing room or with the fanbase.

Reflecting back on his early football memories, Kerkez told the Daily Echo: “I was with the ball, straightaway.

“My brothers also used to play football, so I followed them and we used to start playing in the streets in Serbia. And that's how I started.

“My brother now plays in Serbia also, in the second division. Everyone (in the family) wanted to be a footballer, but everyone goes different ways.”

Like Milos, his brother Marko, 23, also plays as a defender, for Prva Liga outfit Mladost GAT.

Bournemouth Echo: Kerkez has emerged as one of the most exciting young left-backs in EuropeKerkez has emerged as one of the most exciting young left-backs in Europe (Image: Richard Crease)

Milos Kerkez has now caught the eye of many across Europe for his swashbuckling style from left-back, helping AZ Alkmaar reach the Europa Conference League final last season.

His performances convinced Cherries to part with £15.5million to bring him to Vitality Stadium and instantly slot him into the starting XI.

“I started at left-back when I started to play professionally in Hungary in the second division,” Kerkez explains.

“That's the moment when I start to play left-back. But in the youth, you know, you switch positions all around.”

Asked which players he looked to for inspiration growing up, Kerkez said: “Before, I used to play number six, I was in defensive midfield, so from my youth I liked N’Golo Kante a lot.

“He was like my favourite player.

“So now as I'm a left-back, it’s more Theo Hernandez. I like him.”

Kerkez had a spell at AC Milan, where World Cup winner Hernandez remains.

But while Kerkez has picked up plenty of languages from his nomadic career to date, playing in six different countries, finding common ground to pick the brains of Hernandez proved tricky.

“I trained with a lot of good players there (at Milan), big names,” explained Cherries’ talented full-back.

“So it was a was a big, big honour to be there, to train every day. For sure when you're there training with these players, you can learn a lot and that's what I did.

“I speak German, English, Serbian and Hungarian. That's it.

“Theo doesn’t speak English a lot, so it was a little bit difficult!

“He speaks Spanish and Italian, so (we spoke) a little bit. A few words, but not a lot.”

Bournemouth Echo: Fans have quickly taken to KerkezFans have quickly taken to Kerkez (Image: Richard Crease)

The Premier League has developed into a global behemoth, watched regularly around the world with some of the planet’s best talents on show week after week.

For Kerkez, that is a world away from where he began.

“I live in a small town, so it's like we all know each other there,” he explained.

“There is like 40,000 to 50,000 people. We all know each other, it is small town. And everyone waits for the weekend.

“Since I'm young, everyone also in my family, everyone we all watch the Premier League in Serbia and Hungary.

“Everyone watches Premier League, whenever you turn on the TV, it's Premier League.

“Always my full town in Serbia waits always for the weekends to watch me on the TV!

“It's fun and I'm really happy to be here and I'm enjoying it a lot.”

Given the size of Vrbas, is Milos Kerkez the most famous person to ever emerge from there?

He says: “I don't know. I think I am. I'm not sure, but I think I am!”