JUNIOR Kroupi is a ‘pretty special’ player and a great character, Ryan Christie said.
The 19-year-old scored his first goal for the Cherries to rescue a point at Elland Road in stoppage time on Saturday, as Bournemouth drew 2-2 with Leeds.
It was a very well taken goal – three minutes into added time, David Brooks pumped a free kick into the box, it was flicked on by Marcos Senesi to the far post, where Kroupi was waiting to volley back across goal and into the net.
An 82nd minute substitute, Kroupi had previously missed a good chance when teed up by Evanilson, scuffing a shot that Karl Darlow was able to easily pick up.
But he made no mistake when the second chance fell his way to cue wild celebrations in the Cherries away end.
Midfielder Christie said he was buzzing for the teenager, who joined the club in January from Lorient but was loaned straight back to the French club, only arriving in Bournemouth this summer.
“He's a great character,” Christie said.
“To be honest, I can't speak highly enough of him. Smiley, ready to work.
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“He's come in, obviously we've got a few French boys now which I think has helped him settle a little bit.
“I think everybody, obviously around the club as well, is desperate to try and feed him into the team and make his kind of transition as smooth as possible for him.
“But in training, I'll be honest, he's pretty special for the age he is. He's the kind of player that you love to have in your team because he can change a game.
“I know he had a half chance before the goal, but didn't kind of phase him missing that and goes and finishes the chance he got.
“So I think everybody in there is buzzing for him. It's nice when players come in and score their first goal this early because hopefully it'll only guide them to more success.”
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