NATHAN Ake's brief Cherries career is over after Chelsea invoked a recall clause in the Dutchman's season-long loan deal with the Vitality Stadium team.

Eddie Howe brought Ake to the club in June, but the defender had to wait until November 19 for his first Cherries Premier League start, when he scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory at Stoke.

The 21-year-old subsequently became a fixture in the middle of the team's back four, scoring twice more in seven subsequent top-flight starts.

Most memorably, Ake struck the stoppage time goal that completed Cherries' stunning comeback 4-3 victory over Liverpool last month.

His glittering form, however, has caught the eye of Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, who was yesterday quoted saying,"Ake is a really good player and now he's started to play with Bournemouth and is playing every game.

"Honestly, I'm evaluating his situation, because Ake could be an interesting opportunity in this window for us."

Cherries boss Howe conceded after watching his team dumped out of the FA Cup at Millwall that he was expecting to lose the player – something he said was a factor in his decision to make wholesale changes for the third round tie at The Den.

Ake's departure comes at a particularly inopportune moment for Howe, who is already without suspended skipper Simon Francis for his team's next two matches.

Francis's fellow defender Marc Wilson pulled a hamstring late in yesterday's Cup tie in south London.