EDDIE Howe described as a “healthy pressure” the nature of playing tournament football.

Cherries stars Lewis Cook and Aaron Ramsdale have been named in the England under-21s squad for the Toulon Tournament – 20 years after Howe featured in the competition.

Howe played alongside the likes of Emile Heskey, Jamie Carragher and Frank Lampard as England failed to progress from the group stage in 1998.

He told the Daily Echo: “Tournament football is a totally different thing to what you get day-to-day in the Premier League.

“I think it is a real healthy pressure for players to go through. There is a big emphasis on results and you have limited chances.

“You are part of a group which has not been together that long so you have to form relationships very quickly.

“There are a lot of things that are totally different to club football but it’s a great experience for any player.”

Cook and Ramsdale will be hoping to be part of the England line-up when they begin their campaign against China tomorrow (2pm), before facing Mexico three days later.

Aidy Boothroyd's side round off their group fixtures against Qatar on Friday, June 1.

A further game awaits on either June 5 or 6, which could be a semi-final.