CHERRIES defender Milos Kerkez has been included in the final shortlist for the European Golden Boy.

The Hungarian international has made the cut from 100 talented youngsters across Europe down to the final 25, meaning Kerkez will rub shoulders with stars such as England international Jude Bellingham, Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, and Evan Ferguson of Brighton.

Asked about his initial nomination in September, Kerkez told the Daily Echo: “I mean, I work towards that. That's my motivation.

“I want to play on at the top level, perform at the top level.

“So that's what that's what I'm looking forward to, working for. So that's my motivation and I think I can do it.”

To be nominated, a player must be under the age of 21 and ply their trade in a European nation’s top tier.

The award is judged based on a calendar year, with player’s performances between the end of the 2022/23 season and the start of the 2023/24 campaign considered.

Previous winners include Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, Kylian Mbappe, and Raheem Sterling.

19-year-old Kerkez joined Cherries from Dutch top-flight side AZ Alkmaar this summer for a reported £15.5million.

The left back has started all but one of Andoni Iraola’s 10 games in charge of Cherries, the Serbian-born defender coming off the bench in Cherries’ EFL Cup victory over Swansea in August.

In just over a year since making his senior international debut, Kerkez has already picked up 10 caps for Hungary, with the Hungarians set to take on Kerkez’s country of birth, Serbia, on Saturday evening.

After facing Serbia on Saturday, the Hungarians then travel to Lithuania on Tuesday night. Two victories for Hungary would book their spot at the European Championship in Germany next summer.