CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe believes Artur Boruc is pushing Asmir Begovic for a starting spot in the Premier League.

Keeper Boruc has featured only in Carabao Cup fixtures so far this season with big-money summer signing Begovic yet to miss a minute of top-flight action.

However, Howe has been hugely impressed by Boruc's efforts on the training ground and in his three cup outings.

And the manager insists the former Southampton stopper is desperate to show he is still at the peak of his powers.

Howe told the Daily Echo: "Artur has been brilliant. He came back in pre-season the fittest I've ever seen him. He trained very well and had a really good pre-season, and formed a really good relationship with Asmir.

"They are a really good goalkeeping team. You never quite know how that dynamic will work but it's been excellent and they have supported each other. I've been very pleased with him.

"Artur saw it as a challenge that we brought a new goalkeeper in. Under all the layers of Artur, he has got an incredible desire to achieve, fight and show he is still the goalkeeper we all think he is.

"This season during training and in the games in the cup, he has done well. It's no surprise to me that he has been able to achieve that and he is pushing Asmir, which is what you want in every department, you want people performing and putting pressure on the guy who has the shirt.

"I think he has had that special character since we started to work together and I've always said I'm a massive fan of Artur's goalkeeping."

Boruc, who originally announced his retirement from international football in March, brought down the curtain on his Poland career in the 0-0 friendly stalemate with Uruguay in Warsaw on Friday.

Making his 65th appearance for his country, Poland's most capped goalkeeper was substituted in the final minute of the first half and was given a guard of honour by team-mates and coaching staff.

Former Celtic star Boruc walked off the field as Tina Turner's cover of The Best – regarded as an unofficial anthem for Rangers – was played over the Tannoy.

Boruc joined Cherries on a free transfer in June 2015 after impressing during two separate loan spells from Southampton as the Dorset club won the Championship.

Howe added: "Artur was one of the huge reasons the team improved when we were in the Championship. His arrival coincided with an upturn in results. He was outstanding in the Premier League in our first two seasons.

"He is an outstanding goalkeeper and he is looking after himself and he has to do that in the latter years of his career, to do the little things even better to make sure he maintains all his reflexes and sharpness.

"I hope that shows in the games because he has put in a lot of hard work behind the scenes."