FANS' favourite Simon Francis feels his shift to centre-half will extend his playing career by up to three years and has targeted Premier League football at 36.

The 31-year-old Cherries skipper, who flourished after moving into the middle last term, reckons his fitness has improved following the positional tweak.

And Francis admits playing fewer games in the top flight than the lower divisions has also played its part in his body being in peak condition.

He told the Daily Echo: "I think moving position would definitely give my playing career an extra two or three years, just because of the output on the body.

"At right-back it is hard work. I've done it for 12 years now and having moved to centre-half, your body almost instantly feels better.

"The recovery time is quicker. That's not to say I didn't enjoy playing right-back, I loved every minute of it and if I played there again I would still love it.

"But moving to centre-half has certainly helped me fitness-wise. I definitely picked up more niggles and knocks playing right-back because it's so much more intense over 90 minutes because you are constantly up and down.

"We don't have as many midweek games as we did in the Championship or League One and that certainly helps. It means more recovery time and international breaks play a big part in that.

"I don't see my career ending any time soon. I've taken on the armband and want to remain captain of the club for as long as possible.

"I'm enjoying it probably the most I have done in my career and I feel the fittest I have done for years. At the moment, there are absolutely no signs of slowing down."

Francis is determined to replicate the example set by former Cherries centre-back Sylvain Distin, who was renowned for his high fitness levels despite his advancing years.

The captain added: "Football is so scientific nowadays in terms of recovery. You can get your body right to play on a Tuesday night and feel at 100 per cent.

"Five or 10 years ago it wasn't like that. You'd have to go out on a Tuesday night, even if you were at 50 per cent, and get through it.

"I look at a lot of centre-halves in the division who are playing at an older age and a great example from last season was Sylvain Distin.

"He didn't play as many games as he probably would have liked but he was one of the fittest in the team at 37 and 38. He was in the gym every single day working hard and was a great professional.

"I take advice off players like him who have played at the top level for a long time. It would be great to get to 35 and still say I'm in a Premier League squad at Bournemouth."

Cherries are set to return to top-flight action when Hull visit Vitality Stadium on Saturday.