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'They have that gift from the gods': Petrovic praises young Cherries stars

Junior Kroupi scored a sensational half-volley at Wolves at the weekend, taking his tally for the season to eight goals, at an average of a goal every 98 minutes in the league.

Rayan, meanwhile, played his first 22 minutes in a Cherries shirt and provided a brilliant assist for Alex Scott.

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With both just 19 years old, their future is bright – but their present is hugely exciting too.

Asked about the pair after they lit up Molineux, keeper Petrovic said: “You can see already when you're just watching the training sessions that they are talented and they have, how to say, that gift from the gods.

“So I think that, for example, today, from Kroupi, that first touch and volley, it’s something special.

Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi (not pictured) scores their side's first goal during the Premier League match at Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton. (Image: Jacob King/PA Wire)

“I don't want to give them advice because they're so smart, but just to continue to work hard like they working and then, I think there is no limit for them.

“For everyone actually, not just for them.”

Bournemouth have a young squad, with a few experienced heads amongst the team, but the young stars still have plenty of experience.

Rayan, for instance, has 100 senior appearances despite being just 19, while 20-year-old new signing Alex Toth arrived with 11 appearances in the Champions League qualifiers and the Europa League this term.

“I think we have a good mix of the young players and old players, actually we don't have that much old players but we have still young players with big experience,” Petrovic said.

“So I'm somewhere between. But we are trying to help them [the young players] and I mean they are amazing, amazing talents.”

Toth and Rayan arrived as the Cherries have turned what was a poor run of form into a good one.

Bournemouth's Alex Scott (right) celebrates with team-mate Rayan after scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Premier League match at Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton. (Image: Jacob King/PA Wire)

They went 11 games without a win – but they are now unbeaten in the past four, winning three, and they have only lost once in the past six, and that was to league leaders Arsenal.

Petrovic hailed the character in the squad through that run and beyond, saying they were together as a squad and performing largely well, despite results going against them.

He praised the team for their performances since the new year, and said: “Even in the tough moments for us, we were together, we pushed each other on the training sessions and we knew that the results will come.

“We lost Antoine [Semenyo, to Man City], we have a lot of injuries.

“We have a very good, I think, dressing room that everyone is pushing each other and then that is why the results now came.

“Because like I said before, even in the moments where we are in the tough situation, I think we played good and we trained good and then we know that everything will turn around and then we'll start getting points and take our wins.

“So I think the dressing room and then the support that we give to each other and then atmosphere we have, it's even strong in the tough moments.”

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