NATHAN Ake is ready to solve Cherries’ central midfield crisis and has told boss Eddie Howe: “You can count on me.”

The Dutch international has been used almost exclusively as a centre-back since joining permanently from Chelsea in the summer of 2017, following a successful loan spell the previous season.

But with Lewis Cook and Dan Gosling sidelined by knee injuries, Ake played as a deep-lying midfielder in Wednesday’s 1-0 Carabao Cup defeat to the Blues.

And Chelsea were restricted to limited clear opportunities before substitute Eden Hazard made the crucial breakthrough late on.

Ake considered himself a holding midfielder when he arrived in Dorset on loan, a position he had been used in by Jose Mourinho and Rafael Benitez while at Stamford Bridge.

And the 23-year-old is happy to provide a solution for boss Howe, who has Jefferson Lerma and Andrew Surman as his most natural options to call on in the middle of the park.

Ake told the Daily Echo: “I haven’t played there in a while so I need to get used to it. In the first 20 or 30 minutes against Chelsea, I had to search and find my position.

“But the longer the game went on, it was better.

“It was a bit of a surprise (to be selected in that role) but the manager knows he can always count on me wherever he needs me.

“It’s good to play in different positions and I will learn from the Chelsea game.”

Cherries are back in Premier League action on Saturday when Brighton visit Vitality Stadium (3pm).

Howe’s troops will be desperate to return to winning ways having lost seven of their past eight games in all competitions.

Asked if he would be happy to play in midfield in the Premier League, Ake said: “Yes, why not? I think there is still lots of things for me to learn there but I’m always open to that.

“If the manager needs me there, he can use me, for sure.

“Brighton will be tough and is a big one for us but we are ready to go.

“We have played a few games without getting the results we have wanted but we have played well, so everyone is still confident.”

Cherries had frustrated Chelsea for long periods before Hazard entered the fray at Stamford Bridge.

Hazard gave a cutting edge to the hosts’ attacking play and after he had been picked out by Pedro’s backheel with six minutes left, the Belgian star slotted past Artur Boruc.

Asked what the difference had been between the teams, Ake said: “A bit of quality from Hazard. But I think we did really well over the whole game.

“We managed to keep them quiet for a long time so it was tough to take.

“Everyone who came in did brilliantly. They worked so hard and we were just unfortunate with the result.”