IN-FORM midfielder Gavin Kilkenny revealed conversations with Lewis Cook have helped him settle into his role at Cherries.

With Cook injured and Jefferson Lerma suspended, Kilkenny lined up in the heart of Cherries' midfield for Saturday's 5-0 Carabao Cup win over Milton Keynes Dons, and was named man-of-the-match.

The young Irishman looks well-placed to keep his spot when West Bromwich Albion visit Vitality Stadium on Friday, in what would be the first Championship start of his career.

Asked if he feels like he is staking his claim for a starting berth with Cook and Lerma absent, Kilkenny told afcbTV: "Hopefully, yeah. I'll just take it as it comes.

"Take it game by game. Lew and Jeff are great to look up to, so I'll be ready for the moment and ready for when they come back. I'll just keep going."

Discussing the help he has received from his fellow midfielders, the 21-year-old added: "Lewis and Jeff have been brilliant, even Phil (Billing) and Junior (Stanislas). I've learnt loads off them.

"They're really good players. Especially off Lew, he is sort of similar to me in a sense, that position he plays.

"We chat and I've learnt loads off the lads to be fair."