FORMER Cherries manager Harry Redknapp says “Rolls Royce” defender Simon Francis “should have played for England” after having his potential unlocked by Eddie Howe.

Redknapp, in charge at Dean Court for nine years until 1992, also believes Howe’s “incredible” work with Cherries marks him out as a future boss of a top-four club.

Francis has been a Cherries mainstay since his unheralded £25,000 permanent arrival from Charlton Athletic in 2012 and last season was voted by supporters as their player of the year.

Redknapp told the Daily Echo: “It’s incredible, really, what Eddie’s done. He’s assembled a group of players from the lower divisions, shown great faith in them and got them to believe in themselves.

“Look at Simon Francis. He should have played for England. What a talent, what a fantastic player, an absolute Rolls Royce.

“Eddie’s unlocked his potential and got him playing.

“The players there clearly have great belief in the manager and his methods and it shows when they play. I see Bournemouth finishing in the top half, I really do this year. They’re that good.

“They’re certainly establishing themselves in the Premier League now, which is just amazing. Whoever thought we’d be seeing them beat Liverpool in a league game?”

One thing Redknapp does say is missing from his old club’s dressing room is a leader in the style of John Terry or former Arsenal and England captain Tony Adams.

But the 69-year-old claims Cherries are not alone in lacking on that front, given that Chelsea defender Terry is the last of a dying breed.

“There aren’t too many leaders anywhere,” said Redknapp. “The players all pull together. I couldn’t sit here and say there’s a John Terry or Tony Adams-type character in that Bournemouth dressing room.

“There’s not – but there’s not in anyone’s dressing room any more. They’re just not around in football now.

“Simon Francis isn’t a shouter or a screamer but he leads the team well. They all seem to play their part but I’d be lying if I said they had a character in the mould of Adams or Terry.

“Footballers are a lot quieter than they were. Years ago every team had strong personalities.”

Redknapp is also an avowed fan of Howe’s compatriot and fellow Premier League boss, Burnley’s Sean Dyche. But he laments the fact so few homegrown managers are appointed to top-flight jobs, albeit he envisages Howe’s services being in demand in future – hopefully, the distant future.

“I’d like to see more English lads given the opportunity,” said Redknapp. “The top clubs seem loath to give an opportunity to an English or British manager.

“They always seem to want to go foreign. If Eddie continues the way he’s going he’ll certainly get that opportunity but, hopefully, that’s a few years down the line!”