RISING Cherries star Baily Cargill has credited his loan spell at AFC Totton with helping to make him the player he has become .

The 19-year-old centre-back, elevated to AFC Bournemouth’s first team this season, recently signed a fresh two-and-a-half-year deal following a string of excellent displays in the League Cup.

And the crowning glory came recently when he earned his first call-up to the England under-20s squad to face Canada and Portugal during the international break.

Cargill’s new Cherries contract is his third in 16 months and is another step in the right direction for the talented teenager, who spent time on loan with Steve Riley’s Southern League charges Totton two seasons ago, picking up the fans’ player-of-the-year award.

That temporary spell was followed by stints at Welling and Torquay – the latter being Cargill’s first experience of the Football League.

Appreciating the value of those loan spells, the former Southampton and Leicester youngster said: “The moves to Totton, Welling and Torquay helped me gain experience and took me to where I am now, so I am really grateful for what those clubs did for me.

“In my short career so far I have made little steps up.

“I started off at Totton, made the step up to Welling and then Torquay and I think I handled those moves fairly well.

“The way I have been fed into football has been pretty steady and my progression has been pretty steady as well. “I haven’t been one of those lads that has burst on the scene, I’ve had to work for it and bide my time and, hopefully, I have taken my chances.

“I would not change anything about how it has gone.

“If I could give any advice to people that are in the position I was in two years ago, it would be to go out on loan and work hard because then you get opportunities to get where you want to be.”

The England under-20s’ game against Canada is of particular note to Cherries fans as it takes place at Dean Court tomorrow at 7.45pm.

Cargill told Cherries’ official website: “It’s a massive moment for me and my family and everyone that has helped me to get where I am today.

“What an honour it is to be called up for England – I just can’t believe it.

“We trained as normal and the gaffer came over. I thought he was going to give me some positive criticism and then he told me I had been called up.

“I could get to play at Dean Court in an England shirt which would be even better, but just to be recognised and involved is amazing.

“This just proves that if you work hard, you get your reward. This is going to make me work even harder, because I want more.”

In addition to the Canada fixture, England under-20s face Portugal in Coimbra on Monday, November 17.