Cook ecstatic with Cherries awards but targeting strong finish

Steve Cook had never won a personal award before this season, so the Bournemouth defender was understandably ecstatic to scoop a hat-trick of gongs over the weekend.

Cook was handed the Daily Echo/Micky Cave Player of the Year award, along with the AFC Bournemouth Exiles Player of the Year and the AFC Bournemouth Vice Presidents’ Player of the Year award before Saturday’s 2-1 home victory over Burnley.

The 26-year-old has been a rock at the heart of the Cherries defence as they have comfortably steered themselves away from any relegation danger.

Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images

“I’m delighted and I thank the fans who voted for me,” said Cook. “It tops off a really good season. Hopefully I can keep improving and keep going.

“I’ve not seen the awards properly yet. I don’t know who’s got them – they’re the first-ever awards I’ve won, so they’re really special.”

Junior Stanislas and Josh King netted the goals that downed the Clarets at the Vitality Stadium and lifted Bournemouth to tenth in the Premier League table.

They now have just one game remaining – a trip to Leicester City next Sunday – and Cook is desperate to secure an impressive top-half finish.

“I’m really pleased with the win,” added Cook. “We’ve got one more game and the incentives are still there for us to finish in the top half.

“I thought we were very professional against Burnley and topped off a good home campaign. It’s always difficult.A lot of sides do have a big strong centre-forward and it is difficult.

“Every game’s different – we defended well as a team. It’s a shame we didn’t get the clean sheet but overall, I think we’re very pleased.”