Howe: Addison & Elphick are leaders

AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has praised Cherries central defensive partnership of Miles Addison and Tommy Elphick.

The duo joined the Cherries on a permanent basis over the summer, Addison was named captain by former manager Paul Groves after previously impressing last season on loan.

Elphick then joined from Brighton and was eased into the starting line-up by Groves following a Achilles injury that cost him the whole of last season.

Since Howe returned to Dean Court last month, Addison and Elphick have become Howe's first choice central defensive partnership, with the FA Cup game against Dagenham, the only game that the two haven't partnered each other.

On Saturday against promotion hopefuls Doncaster Rovers, the Cherries picked up their first clean sheet under Howe and the Cherries manager praised their performance.

Howe told the Daily Echo...

'...I think they are both leaders. Miles is captain but Tommy is a great talker in the dressing room and they are both very good professionals and both want to do well. You can see that by how they prepare and the effort that goes into making sure they are on top of their game physically as well...'

'...They stuck their heads on the block on Saturday and won their aerial duels, which is so important against two players like Paynter and Brown, who are aerial targets. They dealt with set-plays and their positioning was really good.

"They are two winners and are two lads that want to do well and achieve things...'

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