IT IS fair to say this season has been a rollercoaster ride for Cherries youngster Gavin Kilkenny.

A senior debut for Eddie Howe’s first team, an Ireland under-21 call-up and four goals in three appearances at Vitality Stadium has marked a whirlwind start to the campaign.

But when team-mate Nathan Ake – a player of 10 senior Holland caps reported to be worth up to £75million earlier this summer – labels you “Iniesta”, it is probably a moment worth savouring.

And it is fair to say the gifted Dubliner, who quit school in Ireland to join Cherries in 2016, was flattered by the Dutchman’s description.

“It’s not bad is it? I’ll take it!” Kilkenny, who could tomorrow feature in the Carabao Cup at Burton (7.45pm) told the Daily Echo.

“Little Spanish players have taken over football the past few years. Players like David Silva in the Premier League.

“I just like a player like that because I’m small.”

Speaking about who he looked up to growing up, the 19-year-old added: “The Barcelona ones like Iniesta, Xavi – the kind of David Silva-like players.

“Probably a bit of Stevie G and Roy Keane in there as well.

“Players like Roy Keane because he’s Irish, even though he is a bit more tough tackling, passionate and stuff like that.”

Fast forward to the present day and the midfield star is looking at those around him in Howe’s squad to help learn his trade.

“It’s been really good improving every day,” said the youngster, when asked about working with the first team at Vitality Stadium.

“If you are with them every day you are only going to improve and you can kind of see that sometimes.

“You get used to the intensity and you are playing a bit sharper than you usually would if you were with the under-21s.

“It’s only good, it’s all positive steps in the right direction.”

Technically sharp with a low centre of gravity, similarities could be drawn between Kilkenny and Lewis Cook, the man who has helped Cherries to two top-flight wins since his return from a serious knee injury.

“There is loads to learn from Lewis, he’s a great player,” said Beaumont-raised Kilkenny. “He came back in his first game and probably looked the best player on the pitch for the first half (against Everton).

“He has done a lot for such a young player. It will be good to train with him every day and see more of him.”

It could of course have been so different for Kilkenny, who admitted he had to make a pivotal choice of sports while in his early teens.

“I actually played Gaelic first,” he added.

“I was actually quite good at Gaelic and probably could have had a good career in that but went for football because it was just a little bit better.

“Gaelic is probably bigger than football over there. I just played both and then eventually you obviously have one that you go towards.

“I enjoyed going to Gaelic but I loved going to football more. I used to always play Gaelic after football matches, so I was wrecked by the time I got there.

“It was probably up to when I was 12 or 13. I used to go home and sleep for about three weeks after!”

Howe, who watched the youngster bag a hat-trick against Basingstoke in the Hampshire Senior Cup last week, would have been relieved Kilkenny chose to go down the path of football.

Another interested party will be Ireland under-21 boss Stephen Kenny, having earlier this month given him his international debut for that age group.

Kenny is set to take over from Mick McCarthy as senior boss following Euro 2020.

“He has us playing nice football,” added Kilkenny. “He is going to take over next season, so hopefully I can get in his good books and see what happens.

“I think that’s kind of the ideal plan for any player, to have the younger manager at the moment come up to the senior squad. I couldn’t ask for much more for the future.

“That would be the dream, to play for Ireland in the World Cup if we can finally get there.”