MODEST Andrew Surman was quick to pass on the plaudits for his unblemished Premier League attendance record and insisted he owed it all to Cherries boss Eddie Howe.

The 29-year-old ended the season as one of only three players to play every minute of all 38 top-flight fixtures alongside championship-winning Leicester duo Kasper Schmeichel and Wes Morgan.

Having been shunted into different roles at previous clubs, Surman argued Howe’s faith in his ability to anchor the Cherries midfield had helped to unlock his potential.

The South Africa-born star stood out in that role while on a season-long loan and quickly made his mark when he returned permanently at the end of the summer transfer window in 2014.

Since returning to the starting XI at Leeds on September 16 that year, he has missed just five minutes of action in 78 league outings.

Reflecting on his continued service, Surman told the Daily Echo: “You set out at the start of the season to play as many games as you can and one of my initial targets was to remain injury free.

“From another point of view, if you’re playing every week then you must be doing something right but I am very grateful to the manager for believing in me and trusting me to play all of the games.

“I am really pleased because being in the middle has always been my favourite position. The manager has shown a lot of faith in me and helped to develop my game in that area.

“Had I carried on playing wide, I would not have fulfilled my potential.

“I like to get on the ball and dictate the play, that is one of my strengths and I have been given the opportunity to express myself in way I wouldn’t have had the chance to in a wide position.

“It is great for your inner belief to be chosen for every game when the team is competing and competing well against the very best.

“There is an element of unknown when you’re going into the Premier League, even when you have played there before, you want to try to show you can cut it.

“I hadn’t played my role in the Premier League before and there are always doubts until you have done it.

“It gives you a different positional sense. Against the top sides, you have so many high-quality players that you have to stop and I have learned a lot tactically.

“The gaffer works a lot on shape and our understanding of the game, the bigger picture.

“When you play every game and feel like you’re starting to do the right things, that’s the only way you truly know you can do it. I always believed I could but until you get that chance, you can’t be completely sure.”

Defensive linchpin Simon Francis came agonisingly close to joining Surman on his pedestal but missed the final 33 minutes of the 0-0 draw at Leicester on January 2 having been sent off for a sliding tackle on Jamie Vardy.