Brad Smith has backed ex-Liverpool and current Bournemouth team-mate Jordon Ibe to become better than Raheem Sterling and insists he could become an England regular.
Ibe joined Bournemouth for £15m and has scored in back-to-back friendlies for the Cherries, while Sterling continues to attract criticism for his displays at domestic and international level.
“Jordon is a great talent, he’s already shown down here what he can do,” said fellow ex-Red Smith.
“He’s got great potential and I hope he keeps pushing on and working hard and if he does he can reach the top.
“He and Raheem are very similar players, they both have bags of talent and a lot of potential. I think he can definitely be an England regular. He will be up there with Raheem, if not better.
“They are great players technically.
“Jordon was at Liverpool for five years I was there for eight. We played in the under-18s, reserves and first team together so we have learnt how each other play and we are going to be a good combination.
“He stood out when he first came and then he learnt under Brendan Rodgers, who gave him his chance. He played 50 times for Liverpool and that says it all.”
Left-back Smith completed a £6million move to Bournemouth last week after leaving the Reds, a team he had been at since age 14. He admitted speaking to Danny Ings and Adam Lallana convinced him.
Smith continued: “I’ve heard from a lot of players about Eddie. Danny Ings always spoke very highly and Lallana worked with him as well.”They had a chat with me before I came here and told me he was a great manager to work under and I’m looking forward to play for him.”The style here is very similar to Liverpool, there are just some little things that we need to work on.”
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