BEN Pearson has pinpointed the role Philip Billing does as integral to Cherries’ success, which sees them top the table unbeaten after eight games played, adding: “He can mix it as well as play with both feet, play nice football.”

The great Dane has scored three in the Championship this season after netting in both of the opening fixtures – before bagging the winner from outside the area at Cardiff last weekend.

Copenhagen-born Billing, 25, knows his way out of the English second division after promotion via the playoffs during the 2016-17 campaign with Huddersfield, where he went on to make 43 Premier League appearances.

Pearson has enjoyed being back in a new-look Cherries side after missing the opening games of the season, and it has often been his midfield partners that have made the difference for head coach Scott Parker.

Speaking after the game, Pearson said: “I think Phil’s been really influential with goals ever since I came to the club but getting goals from the ten position has been a real bonus for him.

“I don’t think people realise that Phil works really hard, the management show us the stats every weekend, and he can mix it as well as he can play with both feet and play nice football.”

The pair played in a trio alongside combative Colombian defensive-midfielder Jefferson Lerma, who himself missed the start of the season with a lengthy suspension and only made his first start of the season in the same game Pearson did – away at Hull City.

The 24-time full Colombian international has played every minute since his return, but picked up two yellow cards along the way and some would suggest he could have even faced harsher punishments with one of the most blotted disciplinary records going.

But, in fact, all three of them have received two yellows each in the four games since Hull, with four of those coming in the final three minutes of a match.

Talking about Lerma’s yellow during the bitter contest in Cardiff, Pearson reveals how one going into the referee’s book can lead to a slight on-field tweak of roles in order to protect the cautioned player and keep on a full complement.

He said: “Yeah, I think he was definitely doing the marking in front of the striker for the goal kicks and then he got booked so we changed that and I’ll move in and do it.

“I think you’ve got to look after each other like you say to keep eleven players on the pitch and, you know, you sort out your roles in the team to make that happen.”

Parker and the Cherries management are blessed with sensational depth in the midfield, where key battles see games often won and lost.

Republic of Ireland under-21 international Gavin Kilkenny performed admirably at the start of the season but is now struggling to find minutes with the return of some seniors, while benched summer signing Emiliano Marcondes chipped in going forward too.

Ryan Christie can operate in a midfield role and the currently recovering Lewis Cook has signed a new deal, signalling intentions for an on-field Cherries return this campaign and will add further headaches to midfield selection.

It’s a problem that Parker won’t mind having one bit, with 38 more Championship games to go before the curtain pulls shut and all-important destinies are sealed.