CHERRIES youngster Matt Worthington admitted he had been "shocked" when boss Eddie Howe summoned him from the bench for an "unreal" Premier League debut at Leicester on Sunday.

Under-21 skipper Worthington had travelled with the senior squad to matches at Liverpool and Sunderland during the season and was pleased simply to be asked to board the coach to Cherries' final game of the campaign.

But having been named among the substitutes, the 19-year-old replaced Ryan Fraser as Howe bolstered his midfield with 16 minutes to play.

Asked by the Daily Echo about his feelings when Howe told him he would be going on, Worthington said: "I had a lot going through my head.

"I was a bit nervous but I was shocked that he had said my name.

"It felt unbelievable. I am so thankful to the gaffer for believing in me and putting me on in such an important game, with so much at stake.

"Making my Premier League debut has rounded off a great season for me.

"We have had a few injuries, so I knew there was a chance I would be involved. I trained on Friday and Saturday, then was told I was going to Leicester.

"I was delighted with that, then when I found out I was on the bench I was over the moon. To actually make my Premier League debut was unreal."

Worthington recently led Cherries under-21s in the Hampshire Senior Cup final against Basingstoke at Southampton's St Mary's Stadium.

He drew on that experience and the influence of fellow midfielders Andrew Surman and Dan Gosling to help him shut out his surroundings and focus on the job in hand at Leicester.

"Every time you play in a stadium it is something new and prepares you for the next step up," said Worthington. "It meant making my debut was not as big a shock as it could have been, and the whole season has helped me get to where I am now.

"My mind was straight on the job. I had such an important part to play and it was my debut, so I wanted to impress as much as I could.

"We were under the cosh at the time and I had a job to do. You have to be single minded and focused on what you are doing.

"Drew and Gos are players I look up to and aspire to be. It was great to be in midfield, listening to them and having them talking to me."

The only downer on the day for Worthington was that it marked the end of the campaign.

"I wish we had another game now, but it's time to smash my fitness and come back in the best shape possible," he added.

"I'll have a break for a week-and-a-half then I'll be back into my programme – the pace and physicality of the game were so different to what I was used to."