Former Bournemouth full-back Keith Rowland has praised the work of current manager Eddie Howe with Bournemouth now in their fifth consecutive Premier League season.

Rowland played for Bournemouth between 1989 and 1993, after being brought to the club by Harry Redknapp aged just 18.

Speaking in an interview with Tribal Football, Rowland was clearly very impressed with the progress the club has made in recent years.

"The club was obviously so close to going out of the Football League and that would have been a disaster and Eddie Howe has come in and just done a terrific job," the Aveley FC manager said.

"But also behind Howe, they were building the finances as Bournemouth could never survive with just the gate money, so it is massively important for a club like Bournemouth to stay in the Premier League."

Bournemouth have built a squad filled with international talent during their four-and-a-half-seasons in the top flight, and Rowland said the recognition their players, with Callum Wilson now an England international, are receiving is quite an honour for the club.

He said: "If you have told me ten years ago that Bournemouth would be in the Premier League with internationals playing for them I would have said you were daft.

"And then having an England striker like Wilson as well – it is a great honour for the club."

The Cherries are currently just two points above the relegation zone after 14 games in the season.

Howe's side will be trying to cause an upset by beating the undefeated Liverpool this Saturday at Vitality Stadium.

They will then play Chelsea away and Burnley at home.