CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe hailed resurgent Lys Mousset and said the forward would be “a big part of our future”.

Mousset made his third start of the season in last night’s Carabao Cup tie at Chelsea and impressed despite the visitors’ 1-0 defeat.

The former France under-21 international had earlier in the day been linked with a move to Premier League strugglers Fulham.

But speaking after Eden Hazard had ended Cherries’ cup run at the quarter-final stage, Howe said Mousset was going nowhere.

Howe, who had already fielded further questions on Callum Wilson’s future, was then asked about Mousset’s.

He joked: “It sounds like we’re going to be left with no strikers at this rate!”

Howe added: “Lys did very well. That was probably his best performance for the club.

“His fitness levels were much improved and technically, he produced a really high-level game and he’s a big part of our future.”

Mousset has made just seven top-flight starts since joining Cherries from Le Havre for around 6.5million euro some two and a half years ago.

The 22-year-old has scored four goals, two of which were in the league.