EVERGREEN Charlie Daniels admitted Cherries' high-profile signings had brought out the best in him.

A £200,000 recruit from Leyton Orient in November 2011, the 31-year-old left-back played a crucial role in the Dorset club’s rise from League One to the Premier League.

He remained first choice despite competition from then club-record signing Tyrone Mings and Brad Smith, the pair costing a combined £11million in transfer fees.

Cherries have this summer been linked with a £20million swoop for Celtic’s Kieran Tierney, with Sky Sports News claiming the Scotland international is boss Eddie Howe’s “top left-back target”.

And former Tottenham youngster Daniels, who is closing on 250 appearances in all competitions for Cherries, insisted he thrived on the rivalry within the squad.

Asked whether keeping his starting spot showed the mark of consistency, he told the Daily Echo: “I would like to think so. When competition comes in, you can go two ways.

“You can either lie down and roll over, or you can say it’s another challenge and look forward to it and try to make yourself better.

"Every year, we have all had to improve. Players have come in and we have had to up our game – I guess that's what people don't realise.

"They push us further and harder. That's probably why we have done so well, because players the gaffer has brought in have helped the team.

“I believe every left-back who has come in has improved me. I try to learn off everyone who has come in.

“We had Ian Harte who was one of the best left-backs in the Premier League. I learned so much from him and that can only make you a better player.

“There’s always more to learn. Once you think that you have become the complete package, you start declining.”

Daniels’s consistency was rewarded in September when he penned a new deal to keep him at Vitality Stadium until at least the summer of 2020.

And the experienced defender underlined hopes that Cherries would kick on to the next level.

"We treat the club as a family,” he added.

“We win as a family and lose as a family. Most importantly, we have moved on as a family and we are at the best stage in this club's history. We want to continue that progress.

“A few years ago did I ever think I would play 100 Premier League games? Probably not. It has been a great experience.

“It’s a fantastic journey we have been on and something I am really proud to have been a part of.

"We are always looking forward. We don't often reflect on what has happened. We have to realise where we are now and have to make the most of it.

"We don't want to go back to those days, so we have to keep pushing and improving as a team.”