Cook Can’t Wait For Cherries Comeback

Eddie Howe has revealed Lewis Cook is desperate to complete his recovery from injury as soon as possible and play for Bournemouth once again.

The midfielder has been out since last December after he suffered a serious knee injury in the home game against Huddersfield Town, but he is now in the final stages of his recovery and has been training fully for the past few weeks.

Cook, who needed surgery to repair his anterior cruciate ligament, is expected to be back in the first-team matchday squad by the end of the month. However, his return will be managed carefully by Howe and his staff in order to avoid him suffering any setbacks.

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Howe is pleased to see Cook be on the verge of a comeback after revealed the 22-year-old was devastated when he first went down with the injury and realised the severity of it.

Howe said in the Daily Echo: “He’s got a lot of support here at the football club from the players, staff and I know the fans as well, how highly they rate him. It was a big lift to see him back training with us. “Mentally, I think he’s done very well.

I think he was pretty low initially but then I think once he had the operation and started the first steps back, you saw the positivity and the bounce and the enthusiasm return, and all through the latter stages of his recovery, he’s been pushing to get back, very, very eager to return and keep pushing.”

Cook will aim to win back his place in midfield when he’s given the green light for competitive action again and add to the 56 appearances he’s made for the club since joining from Leeds United in 2016.

Sunday’s home Premier League clash with Everton is likely to come too soon for Cook, as probably will the trip along the south coast to face Southampton on September 20, but the EFL Cup third-round tie at Burton on September 25 may be an ideal opportunity for him to feel his way back into the side.