EDDIE Howe congratulated Steve Cook on his Daily Echo-Micky Cave supporters’ player-of-the-year award and said he had been a “thoroughly deserving” winner.

Cook, who has played every minute of every Premier League game this season, recorded a landslide victory, polling more than 50 per cent of the fans’ votes.

Howe, who won the award in 1998 and 1999, said: “I am really pleased for Cookie because it is such a prestigious award.

“It is also very close to my heart, not just because I won it, but because I believe the people who read the paper are very knowledgeable.

“If you look at the previous winners of the award, you can see the quality – and I am not saying that just because I won it!

“You look at the people who have won it and they are and will be very fondly remembered by the football club.

“I am really pleased for Cookie to follow that path. He is a thoroughly deserving recipient. He has been absolutely outstanding this season.

“He has been very consistent and I think that is probably the biggest compliment I can give him. He has been there every week and shown real maturity, especially in his recent performances.”

The list of recent winners includes a number of current players who have a long association with the club, namely Simon Francis (2016 and 2014), Harry Arter (2015) and Marc Pugh (2012).