EDDIE Howe believes Lewis Cook could have the world at his feet – providing he maintains his “rapid progress” with both club and country.

Howe was speaking after the Cherries midfielder had been drafted in to Gareth Southgate’s England squad over the weekend.

The 20-year-old earned his call up alongside Dominic Solanke and Angus Gunn after a number of players had withdrawn due to injury.

Cook skippered the Three Lions to FIFA Under-20 World Cup glory in the summer before being promoted to the under-21 set up.

He captained them for the first time in a 2-0 win over Ukraine on Friday as they continued their unbeaten start to their European qualifying campaign.

Cook’s meteoric rise to the senior ranks was confirmed yesterday when he was added to the squad for Tuesday’s friendly against Brazil at Wembley.

A £7million buy from Leeds in June 2016, Cook would become the first Cherries player to win a full cap while at the club should he feature against the Samba Boys.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Echo, Cherries boss Howe said: “Everybody is delighted for Lewis. This is recognition for the progress he has made in a short period of time with us and over a longer period with the England development groups.

“He has had a very good start to the season and been very consistent for us. He is improving rapidly and that is also testament to the work he has done with the various England age groups.

“He has turned in a series of outstanding performances and being asked to captain England under-21 is a great achievement in itself. This call up is another forward from that.”

Cook has made 10 appearances for Cherries in the Premier League – playing a total of 771 minutes – and Howe is convinced his inclusion in the England squad would have been close irrespective of the withdrawals.

He added: “The national team are investing in all the age groups. It is a natural progression for a lot of players who have done well at youth level to get called up even if they don’t have a huge base of games behind them.

“Lewis has done very well in the games he has played this season and I can only see outstanding things ahead for him, providing he continues to learn.

“With everyone in place in the full squad, I don’t think he is far away so it is very much in his court to keep progressing and who knows what could happen for him in the future?

“Hopefully, the trajectory of his career is very much upwards from this point. I think he will only get closer if he continues to do well for this club, and the same goes for all internationals.”

Asked what the call up meant to Cherries, Howe added: “It is special and it means a huge amount to everybody connected with the club.

“None of our international players are undervalued by anyone on our side and I am sure the same goes for the supporters.

“To have various players going around the world doing well for their countries is something we have never really had before. It is new territory and an England call up is a huge moment for the club.

“Hopefully, we are building a reputation for producing and developing good players. It is not something we have done consistently with England but, hopefully, there could be more to follow.”