DEAN Court old boy Jamie Day is hoping to help Dan Thomas earn a new Cherries contract – by continuing to give him valuable experience in Conference South.

Welling United player-manager Day has been impressed by the rookie goalkeeper since bringing him in on loan earlier this season.

Local lad Thomas has found first-team opportunities limited at the Seward Stadium since graduating from the club’s youth ranks.

But he has enjoyed a productive spell with the Wings, playing a role in their rise to second position in the table.

Boss Day, a former Cherries midfielder who made 29 appearances for the Dorset club, praised the performances of Thomas.

Day, who was with Cherries from 1999 to 2001, told the Daily Echo: “Dan is still young and is still learning the game.

“He has been with us for about two or three months. We are doing reasonably well in the league and he has done well.

“We have him until January 1 and we have been really pleased with him. Hopefully, his time with us might earn him another contract at Bournemouth or put him in the shop window if it doesn’t work out.”

Day added: “All players want to play 90 minutes and get games under their belts, so it hasn’t done him any harm. Hopefully, it will benefit him.

“He is a great size, his kicking is good, he has got good hands and he is a good shot stopper. He just needs to be a little bit more vocal but with him being so young, that is going to come with age.

“He has done well and, hopefully with him getting this experience and playing some games, it will show Bournemouth what he can do and earn him a new deal.”

Thomas told the club website: “I needed to go out on loan to help me improve.

“I was at Dorchester last season and kept getting recalled and going back and forth, so I didn’t get a good run of games. I’m at Welling until January and if they wanted to extend it and Bournemouth agreed, I would be happy to do that.

“After every game, I ring Neil Moss and tell him how I think I’ve done and what I can work on. I really value his opinion and he’s always supportive.

“I feel like I’m progressing and that comes from training with Shwan Jalal and Darryl Flahavan too. They know what you need to do to be successful at this level.”