MAN of the moment Nathan Ake admitted Cherries had “in flashes” shown their true quality this season and insisted his team could hit greater heights.

Defender Ake helped the Dorset club secure Premier League status for a fourth straight campaign when he shut out Swansea City in Saturday's 1-0 win at Vitality Stadium.

Following the final whistle, the 23-year-old completed a clean sweep of player-of-the-year awards, which included the prestigious Daily Echo/Micky Cave supporters’ player-of-the-year gong.

Despite his personal success since completing a club-record £20million move to Cherries from Chelsea last summer, Ake acknowledged his side had room for improvement.

He told the Daily Echo: “I think we need to look to build next season. We have good players and have the quality but it hasn’t really come out this season – just in flashes.

“We need to try to be consistent because I think we can do much better than we have this season.

“I would have liked to have finished a little higher. In a few games it wasn’t the best but overall it has been a good season."

Ake has featured in all 37 of Cherries' Premier League games this campaign and has won seven of his club's nine player-of-the-month awards.

In winning the Daily Echo/Micky Cave accolade, the Dutch international joins an illustrious group which includes team-mates Steve Cook, Simon Francis, Harry Arter and Marc Pugh.

“I’m very grateful to all the people who voted and who helped me win the prizes," said Ake.

“I think from the moment I came here, the fans were nice to me on the pitch and off the pitch and that gives you more confidence to perform.”

Asked about the value of being an established name on the team sheet, Ake said the chance to play regularly had been the “main reason” he had joined Cherries.

“I have never really had that in my career before, so I think it has been a key season for me,” he said.

“It is a bit different mentally and physically it is harder but I think you learn from that."