ALEX Scott hailed teammate and close friend Antoine Semenyo for how much he has “kicked on this season”, after a “tough” start at Cherries.

Semenyo and Scott were both snapped up by Cherries within a few months of each other, after impressing at Bristol City.

Signed primarily as a striker, Semenyo has made the right-wing position his own when fit, his devastating pace and power making him a nightmare for Premier League defences.

The 24-year-old scored his eighth Premier League goal of the season on Wednesday night, earning Cherries a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.

Semenyo has also recorded two assists in his 29 top-flight appearances this term.

Having signed from the Robins for around £9million in January 2023, Semenyo found game-time hard to come by under Gary O’Neil, his season ended early by a leg injury.

Reflecting on Semenyo’s form this campaign, 20-year-old Scott, who also came through the academy with the Robins, said: “He’s come on loads.

“Being very close to him as well off the pitch, seeing how hard he’s worked in the past year or so, it’s been tough for him.

“Coming in last January, being injured and not playing as much as he wanted to. Now he’s really kicked on this season and I think he can go as far as he wants.

“He is a top player and I’m so happy he got his goal and is doing so well.”

Asked what was behind the goal celebration, Scott added: “It’s just a little thing we have off the pitch – Me, Ant, Max (Aarons) and Hilly (James Hill).

“It’s about time we put a celebration like that out on the pitch.

“I’ve got a few lined up with Hilly and Max as well, but I don’t score enough goals, so that’s something I need to start doing to pull the celebrations out!”

Cherries took a first-half lead, but had to soak up some late pressure after being reduced to 10 men, following a red card for Milos Kerkez.

Asked if he felt the visitors should have come away with a greater winning margin, midfielder Scott said: “100 per cent. I think especially the first half we had plenty of chances to put the game to bed.

“Then obviously with Milos’s red card, that made it difficult for the last 15-20 minutes.

“But we should’ve scored a few more in the first half, but I think the lads deserved a lot of credit for what we did out there.

“We fought for every ball and ultimately I think we deserved the three points.”

He added: “We’re very good at our press. The manager has come in and brought his philosophy in and his way that he wants us to work and the press is very important for us winning games.

“First half it was definitely very good. In the second half they changed a little bit as well, which made it tougher for us.

“But still we had chances to score in the second half. To get to that next step, we need to be putting chances like that away.”

Cherries return to action on Sunday, hosting Brighton & Hove Albion (2pm).