BOSS Eddie Howe believes Cherries have their own version of Eden Hazard in flying winger Ryan Fraser.

The 23-year-old Scotsman has been one of the Dorset club's star performers in his breakthrough season in the Premier League. And Howe, whose side are due to lock horns with Chelsea tomorrow (5.30pm), feels Fraser can emulate Hazard.

The Blues playmaker is widely viewed as a potential winner of the Professional Footballers' Association's player-of-the-year award, with team-mate N'Golo Kante also among the leading contenders.

Asked if Cherries' defenders had been well prepared for the Chelsea fixture by facing speed merchant Fraser in training, Howe said: "We've got our own Hazard!

"They are similar in stature but are slightly different players in terms of what they do. Ryan has been more of an out-and-out wide player for us whereas Hazard likes to come infield and play centrally.

"Hopefully, we can turn Ryan into the Hazard of the future.

"I have a vision for all my players. I put them on a pedestal because I see them work every day and think what they could be. I have high hopes for every player in my squad and Ryan would be one who could achieve whatever he wants to from this position.

"He has had a really good start to his career in the respect he has had a lot of games. The games at Ipswich, the games with us in the Championship, they were steep learning curves for him and now he is reaping the benefits in the Premier League.

"He is still a very good age and has time to kick on but as we all know, football careers go so quickly. One minute you are 22 or 23 and in the blink of an eye you are 27 or 28, so he has to maximise these moments now."

Fraser was a bargain £400,000 buy from home town club Aberdeen in January 2013, while Hazard was brought in by Chelsea for a reported £32million the previous summer.

Hazard was on the scoresheet from the spot when the Blues triumphed 3-0 over Cherries on Boxing Day and Howe is keenly aware of the 26-year-old's qualities.

Howe said: "I was really impressed with him when we played Chelsea for the first time this season. His ability to turn with the ball and the way he manipulates the ball is excellent.

"He could be in a situation where you think he has nowhere to go and he manages to weave his way round two or three players.

"Technically, he is very good and he knows where the goal is, he takes up really good positions and has the ability to finish. He's a player who we have to be aware of and we have to counteract his strengths.

"I felt as a team we did very well against a similar player in Philippe Coutinho on Wednesday. Although he scored, in the main we played him pretty well."