Red-hot teen 'ready to suffer'

'Overcome with emotion'

His first, a 93rd-minute equalizer against Leeds in a 2-2 draw at Elland Road, showed the French youth international's knack for making an impact in key moments.

"The moment the ball went in, I lost control of myself," he recounted. "It was the equalizer, I took off my shirt, I was overcome with emotion and, frankly, I won't forget that one."

Promoted to the starting lineup two weeks later against Oliver Glasner's high-flying Eagles, Kroupi scored twice in the first half to give Bournemouth an unlikely 2-0 lead at Selhurst Park, before Palace fought back for a 3-3 draw.

The match fell on his father's birthday.

"He told me he didn't need anything else, that it was the best gift I could give him," the younger Kroupi said.

After scoring the second in a 2-0 win over Forest at the end of October, the goals have dried up for Kroupi.

Bournemouth sits 11th in the Premier League, and is winless since Kroupi's last strike.

The youngster accepts the progression in the Premier League is rarely linear.

"That's what I came here for: development, the challenge, playing with the best players in the world. I was ready to suffer," Kroupi said.

Now, he is delighted to have the opportunity to develop under Bournemouth's highly-regarded young manager, Iraola.

"He may seem cold, but he's someone very close to us, and that's what I found incredible," Kroupi said.