STEVE Cook admits he would “love” for loan star Harry Wilson to extend his stay at Cherries, but added: “He’s left himself in a very good position to prove himself that he can play for Liverpool.”

The winger, who has scored seven goals in his debut Premier League season this term, is ineligible to face his parent club when Cherries head to Anfield on Saturday (12.30pm).

Wilson, 22, is due to return to Liverpool in the summer at the end of his season-long loan stay at Vitality Stadium.

Although he remained an unused substitute for the weekend draw with Chelsea, Wales international Wilson has proved himself a key cog in Eddie Howe’s squad this season, having featured in all but five games across all competitions this term. His seven goals place him second, just one behind namesake Callum Wilson, in Cherries’ scoring charts.

Discussing Wilson’s improvement since arriving at Cherries in August, centre-back Cook told the Daily Echo: “Harry’s done outstandingly.

“He’s scored great goals for us, works extremely hard and can probably feel a little bit aggrieved to be out the team last Saturday.

“I think he’s been playing really well but that’s obviously the beauty of having a squad, the rotation and whatnot. But I think as a player and an individual he’s grown over the season and I think he’s going to have a huge part to play in the rest of the season for us.

“He’s our second top goalscorer, which shows how well he has done with seven goals this season.”

Asked if he thinks Wilson has the potential to go back next season and compete for a spot in Liverpool’s team, the reigning European and world champions and a side who have won 26 of their 28 Premier League matches this term, Cook added: “I don’t know his thoughts on what he’s going to do next year.

“I’d love him to be a Bournemouth player. Young, hungry, got goals, a lovely left foot – potentially he is a very good Liverpool player.

“Hopefully he can produce his best obviously for us now in the last nine games, because he can’t play this week, and maybe he’ll become a Bournemouth player, who knows.

“It’s very difficult for me to say what he’s going to do, but I think he’s left himself in a very good position to prove himself that he can play for Liverpool.”

The only three games Wilson has not been part of the matchday squad for Cherries this term came in December. He missed clashes with Chelsea and Burnley due to a leg injury and was unavailable to take on Liverpool.

Quizzed on whether he feels the winger should be allowed to play at Anfield this weekend, Cook said: “In Spain I think it’s allowed. You see players playing against their parent teams.

“But I don’t know, I think it would be a little bit controversial if Harry played and scored a couple of goals and we won the game.

“I wouldn’t want a player from Bournemouth going on loan and when they played against us, he played against us. I think it’s probably the right rule.”