EMERGING talent Joe Partington is content with his jack-of-all-trades tag – but is keen to eventually become the master of midfield.

Partington came through with flying colours after deputising in central defence during Cherries’ 1-0 win over Accrington Stanley on Saturday.

The 18-year-old was pressed into service in an unfamiliar role due to injury to Ryan Garry and Scott Guyett and Shaun Cooper’s one-match suspension.

Partington told the Daily Echo: “When we worked on the shape of the team on Friday, I wasn’t in the starting line-up. I was on the other side, hoping to be on the bench.

“I had one eye on what people were doing in that position because Eddie did bring me in for a spell. He also looked at Danny Hollands and Tim Stephenson.

“I was delighted when I saw my name on the team-sheet. It doesn’t matter where I am asked to play because I will always give 100 per cent “I’ve played there two or three times for the reserves and, when Eddie was here with Kevin Bond, he used to work with me in training.

“He always said he thought I could play centre-back. Thankfully, he showed great faith to start me there and hopefully I did well for him.

“First and foremost, I see myself as a midfielder. But I just want to play and, the more positions I can turn my hand to, the more I am going to play.”

It was also Partington’s first taste of action since he came on as a late substitute during Cherries’ unforgettable 3-3 draw at Lincoln last month.

He added: “That game will stick with me for a very long time because I learned a hard lesson and had to take my fair share of the blame for one of their late goals “I had possession and should have kept the ball in the corner.

“Looking back on the video, I had a lot of time and space and maybe it was down to youth and inexperience.”

Cherries’ defensive problems gave boss Eddie Howe a major headache in the lead up to the Accrington clash, which resulted in several failed attempts to bring in cover on loan.

Howe was therefore delighted to find the solution on his doorstep: “It was a difficult ask for Joe because he had only played there a couple of times for the reserves.

“But he’s got the right stature and it’s definitely a position he could play in time.

“I thought he was exceptional in an unfamiliar role and it definitely helps him having another string to his bow.”

Howe also revealed he was on the verge of registering his assistant Jason Tindall: “He was getting closer and closer to a call-up but, unfortunately for him, we missed the registration deadline. I wouldn’t have played him but may have contemplated putting on the bench.”