'You want to win things as a player. You can’t stand still, you have always got to be moving forward'

Eddie Howe’s men have never gone further than the last eight of the competition and will be hoping to seal a semi-final spot with victory at Chelsea tomorrow (7.45pm).

Pugh, who joined Cherries from Hereford in 2010 when the club was in League One, has featured in cup clashes with Blackburn Rovers and Norwich this season.

He told the Daily Echo: “You want to win things as a player. You can’t stand still, you have always got to be moving forward.

“It’s very rare in football that you get a great run in the cup and there’s not too many players who could say they got to the final of a cup competition.

“It’s a massive incentive for the football club to get through to the semi-final in a two-leg tie.

“When you are sitting in 19th in League One, this is always difficult to imagine!

“But the gaffer and his coaching staff put in a lot of work. They don’t just come in, take training and go home. They are here until 7pm, working tirelessly for the next training session – they deserve that success.”

Cherries were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Chelsea at this stage last season.