EDDIE Howe has hailed Tommy Elphick as a “fully deserving” winner of the supporters’ player-of-the-year award.

Elphick followed Howe when he carved his name on the famous Daily Echo / Micky Cave trophy after polling 29 per cent of the votes, the defender beating Brett Pitman into second and Simon Francis into third.

Signed by former boss Paul Groves from Brighton in the summer, the 25-year-old has been a key performer and influential figure in Cherries’ revival under Howe.

Elphick, whose presence was sorely missed when Cherries went on a run of five defeats, was last week handed the Cherries captaincy on a permanent basis by Howe.

Howe, a two-time winner of the award during his playing days, told the Daily Echo: “I am really pleased for Tommy and he is fully deserving of the award. He has been a key man for us. From my perspective, he is an important member of the squad, not just on the pitch but off it as well. He has been a pivotal figure with his leadership skills. I am full of admiration for him and his performances on the pitch, which are the most important thing, have been very consistent.

“The biggest compliment I can pay Tommy is that he is probably a bit of a throwback in terms of a centre-half. Very rarely do you get young players coming through with his characteristics in terms of his leadership skills and his voice, which he uses to really good effect.

“He is also not frightened to say bits and pieces to certain people and to demand more from individuals and the team. These are special characteristics and you need them at the base of any team.”

Elphick, whose first official notes as captain will appear in the matchday programme today, will be hoping to lead Cherries to a club record eighth successive league victory when they host Carlisle (3pm kick-off).

Howe added: “You always choose you captain very carefully because there are so many boxes he has to tick. The beauty with Tommy is that he ticks them all.

“He is dependable and reliable and has all the qualities you need from your captain. He lives his life correctly, which is another key component. He is certainly a role model for everybody to look up to and to say ‘that is how you want to behave’.

Howe added: “There were several other players who would have been worthy of the award as well. We have had a strong two-thirds to the season and it just goes to show how important a solid base and your defence is to any team.”