Town keeper Dean Gerken is convinced on-loan winger Ryan Fraser has a big future ahead of him with parent club Bournemouth.

Scottish U21 international Fraser is set to return to the south coast next season and, if the Cherries survive their first-ever campaign in the top flight, temporary colleague Gerken sees him becoming an established figure there.

Fraser’s absence with a knee ligament injury coincided with Town’s depressing run of form that saw them slide towards mid-table, but since his return he has helped lift the team into fifth spot, six points adrift of second-placed Hull.

Gerken said: “I don’t want to give Ryan a big head or anything like that but we know how fortunate we are to have him here. We’ve also got Ainsley [Maitland-Niles], who has been absolutely brilliant for us, and we’ve got Tommy Oar to come into the team as well when needed.

“With Ryan — and I really don’t want to blow his trumpet for him — I think he will be a Premier League player, playing consistently, with Bournemouth next season.

“You look at what he can do — he’s two-footed for a start. I was watching the Portsmouth game and I genuinely had to ask if he was left or right-footed, that’s how good he is with either one.

“He’s got everything and while there’s not much of him he’s sharp, strong and you don’t see him getting pushed off the ball. If gets his head right and does what he knows he can do I’ve got no doubt he’ll be a regular in the Premier League.”

Meanwhile, Gerken believes his own form has been consistent for some time, adding: “I suppose it’s been as good as at any time since I’ve been here. To be honest I just take it a game at a time and I know it’s a lot easier to praise me when we’re winning week in, week out.

“I wasn’t getting praised when we were on that bad run but I believe I’ve been consistent form-wise since I came into the team back in August.

“Okay, I wasn’t happy with what happened at Reading, but apart from that game I’ve been happy with my performances all the way through and not just the last two months or so. I’ve enjoyed it ever since I came in and I love doing what I’m doing.”

Some fans have made it clear they prefer second-choice keeper Bartosz Bialkowski, but boss Mick McCarthy stuck to his guns and kept selecting Gerken, who appreciated the backing of his manager.

Gerken said: “He does it with everyone and he does it an awful lot. At the end of the day he’s the only person whose view matters to me and if he’s picking me it gives me a lot of confidence. I’ve enjoyed helping to get us out of the situation we were in when we weren’t winning.

“Being a part of lifting us from where we were in the table then to where we are now means a lot to me. We’ve come through that difficult time and I think it shows the mental strength in our team. We are getting the plaudits now but everyone was writing us off two months ago.”

Photo: Action Images

Tufty added 09:35 - Jan 15 Clearly quality player You never know with all the signings Bournemouth have made we could just be lucky
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rfretwell added 09:51 - Jan 15 Not a chance Tufty. Even if Bmouth dont need him (highly unlikely) surely they will want several million for him. He's well out of our league! But Freddie played very well on the left wing when Fraser was injured so we have options if/when he goes back.
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peewee added 09:53 - Jan 15 Is not the fans to pay good money count just as much? The attitude towards us fans from Mick and some players is getting right up my nose.
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muccletonjoe added 10:13 - Jan 15 Far from certain that Bournemouth will be in premier league next season. So Frasers future is not signed and sealed.
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mow_the_lawn added 10:14 - Jan 15 "I wasn't getting praised when we were on that bad run"....hmmm...I wonder why that was.
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MedwayTractor added 10:29 - Jan 15 "Ryan Fraser has a big future ahead of him" Where else would you expect to find the future?
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whosroundisitanyway added 11:08 - Jan 15 MedwayTractor Leave the past behind you.
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BackTheBlues added 11:37 - Jan 15 @peewee - no your opinion doesn't matter when it comes to team selection. You are not paid to put the team out and get them created. We all moan on here Mick has his favourites - but don't we all have ours? You may think it's backed up by facts and your opinion - but frankly - unless you've ever managed a professional team - you know sod all about picking a winning team. Let's be fair - at the moment we can't complain.

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Fatboy added 12:09 - Jan 15 The only scenario in which he'd sign for us permanently next season would be if we are promoted and Bournemouth relegated. Even then, didn't he sign a contract extension at the beginning of this season? That, along with the parachute payments that Bournemouth would received, would mean it would take a hefty fee to get him.
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