CHARLIE Daniels insists pressure on his position is nothing new and is adamant it will help him become a better player.

Left-back Daniels was a regular in the Cherries side that achieved survival in the club’s inaugural Premier League season last term, featuring in all but one top-flight fixture.

The 29-year-old has not missed a minute of Cherries’ current league campaign, playing from start to finish against Manchester United, West Ham and Crystal Palace.

However, Tyrone Mings made his long-awaited return from injury against AC Milan on Saturday, albeit at centre-half alongside Corey Jordan.

It was Mings’s first appearance in more than 12 months after he sustained a serious knee injury on his Premier League debut against Leicester in August last year.

Meanwhile, Brad Smith, who played 90 minutes in last month’s EFL Cup win over Morecambe, will hope to soon be given a chance by boss Eddie Howe in the league.

Nathan Ake – a summer loan signing from Chelsea – is also capable of playing at left-back and Daniels believes increased competition for starting places will benefit Cherries.

Reflecting on the battle to keep his spot, Daniels said: “I’ve had it throughout my career at Bournemouth.

“Not only in my position but other positions, the gaffer has had to recruit and buy players he thinks will benefit not only the team but the squad as well.

“We need to keep improving the team that’s been playing and you do that by buying better people who want the shirt.

“For me, it can only make me a better player.”

None of the current Cherries back five – Artur Boruc, Adam Smith, Simon Francis, Steve Cook and Daniels – have missed a minute of Premier League action in the opening three games.

Cherries have just one point on the board so far having suffered defeats in their opening two fixtures before being cruelly denied victory at Crystal Palace 11 days ago.

Joshua King’s well-taken goal early on appeared to have given the visitors victory at Selhurst Park, only for Scott Dann to pop up in second-half injury-time to salvage a point for Palace.

It was a tough pill to swallow for Howe’s men, particularly in the light of having conceded late to West Ham the previous week.

Daniels continued: “That’s the league, sometimes you don’t get what you deserve. You have to keep battling and working and, hopefully, we will get the rub of the green next time.

“We’re always positive. As a group, we evaluate every game, know what went wrong and right, try and replicate the things which were right and try and eradicate the things which went wrong.”

Cherries are next in action on Saturday when West Brom visit Vitality Stadium.