Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook explains how he has improved since Leeds United exit

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Leeds United earned £10m from Lewis Cook’s move to Bournemouth last year, although the Cherries are yet to see much return on their investment.

While outside observers may consider Lewis Cook’s injury-stricken debut season at Bournemouth as little more than a write off, it is clear that the 20-year-old would not agree, as reported by the club’s official website.

Arguably the most gifted of an impressive crop of young players to emerge out of Leeds’ Thorpe Arch academy in recent seasons, Cook’s £10million move to the south coast last season was justification for a series of stand-out performances in the Championship, The Guardian reports.

Yet the technically proficient midfielder, tipped to be a future England regular, has not started a Premier League game since his debut against Manchester United on the opening day thanks to a relentless string of injuries.

However, Cook still believes that he will come through the other side a stronger, and better, player.

“It’s been a different season and massive learning curve,” the England Under-20 international told the club’s official website.

“Outside of the games I’ve learned a lot, the gaffer’s been great with me and improved me a lot with my spatial awareness, my technical ability on the ball and just with trusting myself.

“I’ll be coming out of this season as a better player.”

Cook will be hoping that the final weeks of the season give him an opportunity to stake his claim for a first-team place in 2016/17.

The youngster has featured twice off the bench in recent weeks after eight months without a single Premier League appearance, assisting Marc Pugh’s goal in Saturday’s 4-0 thrashing of Middlesbrough.

And working under Eddie Howe, a young manager renowned for his preference for easy on the eye, passing football, should get the best out of a player with Cook’s technique and composure.

The midfielder who earned rave reviews and got scouts sweating at Leeds could be even more impressive at Bournemouth.