CHERRIES’ teenage defender Baily Cargill is desperate to prove he could cut it in the Championship and wants to start by passing his Premier League test.

The 19-year-old, elevated to Eddie Howe’s first-team squad this season, is expected to feature when Cherries host Southampton in a pre-season friendly tonight (7.45pm).

Cargill was released by Saints as a 12-year-old after being told they had a left-back ahead of him in the pecking order – Luke Shaw, whose £30million move to Manchester United last month was a world record fee for a teenager.

Invited to join the Cherries centre of excellence after impressing during a trial, Cargill, who almost quit the game following his rejection by Saints, progressed through the club’s youth set up and development squad and was rewarded with a two-and-a-half year contract in November.

Converted by boss Howe to a left-sided central defender, Cargill, who made his Football League debut during a loan spell at Torquay last season, turned in an accomplished display in the first half of Cherries’ 2-2 draw against FC Copenhagen a fortnight ago.

Cargill told the Daily Echo: “It was a great experience to play a Champions League team. I was up against Steve De Ridder, who used to play for Southampton, and a striker called Andreas Cornelius, who joined Cardiff for £7.5m this time last year before going back to Copenhagen. I felt I did well and they didn’t threaten our goal in the first half.

“Hopefully, I will get some game time in our next few friendlies when we play both Southampton and Swansea. There is nobody you would rather face than Premier League opposition because it is the best league in the world. Playing against quality players pushes you to the maximum and helps you see where you are with your own game.

“If I do get a chance, I have to make sure I take it with both hands and do the best I can. I need to prove myself to the manager every day, both in training and in games.”

Howe has already stated he has no immediate plans to loan out Cargill and says the youngster could start the season as Cherries’ third-choice central defender behind Tommy Elphick and Steve Cook with Elliott Ward still on the road to recovery.

Cargill added: “I feel ready, my confidence is up and I am feeling good about myself. If it were to happen then I think I would be ready to do a good job. I never thought I would be training regularly with the first team never mind even maybe having a chance to play in the Championship.

“I feel I have been given a really good opportunity and am determined to take it. The manager and his assistant were both defenders and they know the position. They give you high expectations and know the roles and responsibilities. It is a good thing and it makes you stay on your toes more because you know they will spot it if you make a mistake.”