ANDREW Surman is tipping Matt Worthington to "kick on" next season, after the teenage star made his Premier League debut in Cherries' final game of the campaign.

 

Under-21 skipper Worthington has been regularly training with the first-team and was in the travelling party for matches with Liverpool and Sunderland last month.

 

But after being named in a matchday squad for the first time, the 19-year-old played the final 16 minutes of the match at Leicester, where Cherries earned the point that secured their ninth-place finish.

 

Following the game Worthington spoke of his thrill at playing in midfield with Dan Gosling and Surman, and admitted he "aspired" to reach the standard of the experienced pair.

 

Surman played for Southampton reserves aged 15, and was 18 when he made his professional debut. And he has been impressed by young team-mate Worthington.

 

He told the Daily Echo: "Matt was great when he came on and he is a really good player. He has been training with us for a while now and you can see him progressing.

 

"He is a nice lad and he goes about his business in the right way. I was delighted for him when he came on and I thought he gave a great account of himself.

 

"It is an experience he will remember and, hopefully, he will kick on next season."