EDDIE Howe believes Aaron Ramsdale’s ability to balance his “joking side” and “serious side” has been the goalkeeper’s “biggest improvement” in recent months.

Ramsdale has enjoyed a monumental rise from League One loanee to Premier League starter this year, playing every minute of top-flight action for Cherries this season.

The goalkeeper is also making strides on the international stage, set to keep his place in goal for England under-21s when they head to Albania in a Euro 2021 qualifier tomorrow (6pm).

His form was rewarded with a bumper new contract last month with team-mate Philip Billing telling the Daily Echo he believes Ramsdale could have a “big future” and that “it’s definitely looking good for the club”.

Ramsdale’s exuberant personality was no more evident than during the League Two play-off final in May, where the 21-year-old dressed as one of the Teletubbies in the crowd to watch Tranmere Rovers defeat Newport County 1-0. Ramsdale’s friend Harvey Gilmour was an unused substitute for Rovers.

And while Howe admits he wasn’t aware Ramsdale had dressed up for that trip, he says it comes as no shock.

Howe said: “I don’t know whether that’s true or not, I’ve got no idea. But yes, he’s slightly larger than life.

“He’s a colourful character. It wouldn’t surprise me if that were true and that was him dressed as a Teletubby. That wouldn’t surprise me.

“I think the big thing from Aaron’s perspective is as much as he’s got that clown, laughing and joking side, there’s a serious side to his personality as well and that’s his football and that’s his goalkeeping.

“I think that’s where if I can say he’s made the biggest improvement it would be on that side, where from around the training ground and his day-to-day conduct he’s been absolutely on it.

“There’s not a day where he’s not taking his work seriously, he has done. Off the pitch then, as long as it’s within the rules and he’s not doing something that would affect his professionalism, that’s just his character coming through.”

Howe has regularly credited the need for good characters in the dressing room, including Dan Gosling who has recently returned from injury. But he feels Ramsdale’s serious edge is also key. He said: “I think it’s a boost to have energisers and people that make other people laugh and that don’t take themselves too seriously. I think that can be a good thing. But it’s got to be all within reason.

“It’s got to be at the right times because as a position of a goalkeeper you’ve got such responsibility on your shoulders.

“You’re the one that everyone is going to look to go right, we need to be secure today, we need you to be trustworthy and make good decisions.

“That’s only going to come if you’re preparing well. That’s the biggest change in Aaron and I’m delighted with that aspect.”