Aké has set the bar which the others have to reach

There was no doubt who was AFC Bournemouth's best player on the field last weekend. Nathan Aké was a tower of strength and you wouldn't have known he had ever been away as he just took off from where he left the team last January. He made immaculate tackles and covered numerous times, when Jay Rodriguez looked to have the run on him. He has a grit and determination to be a winner and AFCB's players may need to follow his lead.

Ake sets the standard.

It is asking a lot of a new signing to pick the team up, but Nathan Aké is a player that sets himself high standards and is already pleasing Eddie Howe and the fans. He may not have been allowed to push himself forward often to get AFCB a goal, but his primary duty to keep West Brom's strikers away from goal was at times a masterful display. He is not afraid to scrap for the ball as the last defender when he is not favourite to win the ball, and while he gave a couple of sharp passes back to Begovic, he generally chooses the safest option.

It may not have been the start of the season that Aké or Bournemouth wanted at the Hawthorns, but it did confirm what a prospect Nathan is. Working with him is going to be a real pleasure for Eddie Howe, as Nathan does many things naturally. He has common sense and rarely overplays, but is economical in his passing. Strong in the air and confident of scoring goals, Nathan will be a massive part of AFCB's season.

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What Nathan may be wondering is why others were not quite on their game at the Hawthorns. He'll know that the team can play better, and is perhaps learning why Eddie Howe was so keen to get him back to Dean Court.

New training facility plans announced in Poole.