STEVE Cuss heaped praise on midfielder Katie James after her player-of-the-match performance against Swindon Town.

James was instrumental in the Cherries’ 4-0 victory over the Robins, netting a first half brace to send AFC Bournemouth into the break with a 2-0 lead.

Cuss told the Daily Echo how important the 29-year-old Poole-born midfielder is to the Cherries team.

“[She’s an] outstanding footballer for us, really understands the game really well,” he explained.

“You saw what she means to the side today not only with her two goals, but she needed to go and play on the right-hand side for that second half before she come back inside to the central area.

(Image: Richard Crease) “She's intelligent, she's a good player and she's able to do that.

“So having a player that can play in multiple positions like she does is a real asset.

“But she had a real good impact on the game today, obviously her two goals, but her work off the ball was impressive as well.

“That's what pleases me as much, is that players want to be able to do that work and then that we get the ball and we can be creative.

“So delighted for her, really good performance.”