Former Bournemouth defender Joe Partington has praised Evanilson's "exceptional" performances against Sturm Graz in the Europa League and Sunderland in the Premier League, with the striker netting in back-to-back games.

The 27-year-old has scored three goals and contributed four assists across nine appearances this season.

Speaking on BBC Radio Solent's Cherries Unpicked podcast about Evanilson's goal and assist, which helped Marco Rose's side secure their first Premier League win of the season, Partington said: "He is always pretty good, but I would say he was exceptional.

"He is one of those players that never really gets total credit unless he scores because he is a striker, so it was nice to see him get an assist and then put his goal away.

"His overall play was brilliant, especially when he contributed to Kevin Danso being sent off early in the game by chasing somewhat of a lost cause.

"I don't think we gave enough credit to the header he scored against Sturm Graz midweek because that was exceptional as well. It feels like he is in a real nice rhythm at the moment.

"Regardless of where he plays, I feel he is pretty central to Marco Rose's plans this season - and so he should be because he was by far and away the best player on the pitch against Sunderland."

On Evanilson's neat 48th-minute finish, Partington added: "It was smooth. I think people call it 'flow state' when you find yourself in a rhythm where you're just totally in control of what you're doing.

"He looked balanced, his first touch was where he wanted it to be - he needed to get on the other side of the defenders and he managed to use his body to do that. It just all came together at the right time for him.

"The only question mark I've got around him being a number nine is whether he has that selfishness to score goals. There is no way Brett Pitman would have squared that ball to Marcus Tavernier in the fifth minute.

"Evanilson doesn't quite have that cutting edge. I would say it's maybe the reason why he doesn't have as many goals to his name, but he is still a brilliant player."