Lewis Cook exclusive: England U20 skipper talks World Cup semi-final and pathway to senior side
Wednesday 7 June 2017 14:21, UK
If you roll the clock back 12 months, Lewis Cook was a man in demand.
He became the most expensive English teenage signing of last summer's transfer window when Eddie Howe splashed an initial £7million (rising to £10m) for his services from Leeds United.
However, if you allowed this talented young man to slip under your radar last season, then you're forgiven.
The central midfielder, who was named Football League Young Player of the Year in 2016, following in the footsteps of Gareth Bale and Dele Alli, endured a frustrating first campaign as injuries restricted him to just six Premier League appearances for Bournemouth.
Just another young English talent to throw on the scrap heap then?
Absolutely not.
Those that have been following the progress of England U20's at the World Cup will be well aware that the potential in Cook burns bright.
Cook is technically superb, has a great footballing brain and shows great positional awareness for someone aged just 20. It's easy to see why Howe is such an admirer and picked him as a starter against Manchester United in the first game of last season.
With the Bournemouth man carrying the armband, the Young Lions have roared to the semi-finals.
Having notoriously struggled at U20 tournaments, England have gone through this one unbeaten, having topped a group that included Argentina before beating Costa Rica and Mexico in the knockouts. Cook's pass for the winning goal against Mexico - scored by soon-to-be Liverpool man Dominic Solanke - was a thing of beauty.
Now Paul Simpson's side will face Italy on Thursday for a place in the final against either Uruguay or Venezuela.
When you think of England squads at major tournaments, your mind is drawn to the failures of certain senior teams at adapting to the new group environment and keeping their minds active on the job.
However, under the stewardship of Simpson, this close-knit England side seem to be embracing their time away on tour.
Team-bonding sessions, including a competitive racing simulator competition among other activities, has kept the squad engaged despite being away from home for nearly a month now.
Cook and six other members of the squad were part of the side that lifted the U17 European Championship in 2014. They have a winning mentality ingrained in them, and it's serving them well.
"As a team, we're really close," Cook told Sky Sports. "We've been together for a long time now and we know how each other work.
"It's been a great experience. We came here thinking we had enough in the squad to get far - that was always our goal.
"It's been a case of so far, so good. Off the pitch it's a massive thing too. We're all together. We've showed the desire to show we want this."
Club versus country is always a debate that generates plenty of opinion - usually because of player withdrawing from the national side to prioritise their domestic career.
However, it's the other way around for Cook, who, despite breaking into the first team towards the back end of the season at the Cherries, pulled out of their final game of the season - with Howe's approval - against Leicester in order to join up with his U20 team-mates.
After this tournament is over, though, Cook is fully focused on what he hopes will be his breakthrough season in the Premier League.
When asked if a loan move could be on the cards next season, Cook's response was clear.
He has eyes for a regular first-team spot at Bournemouth, especially now Jack Wilshere, who Cook admits he learnt plenty off last season, is due to return to Arsenal following his loan spell.
"Wherever you are you want to play as many games as you can," he said. "If I can get a few more games next year then I'll be really happy.
"The main thing is breaking into the first team and then seeing what happens."
A quick spin through the England senior squad shows that a pathway for Cook is perhaps clearer than many would assume. Central midfield isn't an area where England are brimming with options, with only Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Danny Drinkwater, Dele Alli, Jake Livermore and James Ward-Prowse realistically battling it out for a place in Gareth Southgate's engine room.
Cook's game with the U20's is focused around keeping the ball, dropping deep and providing the likes of Ademola Lookman and Solanke service to cause havoc in the final third. That draws parallels with Southgate's vision of fielding and ultimately feeding creative players like Adam Lallana and Raheem Sterling behind a striker.
Cook is well aware of the possibility of breaking into the senior side at some point.
"We know there's a way into the first team," he said.
"As young players we look to other young players that have gone and broken into the England senior team, the likes of Dele Alli and Marcus Rashford.
"Hopefully a few in our group will one day be there."
A World Cup win would do Cook - and his team-mates - no harm in that regard.
And Southgate, who sent the Young Lions a message of support pre-tournament, will surely be watching with interest.
