King targets Cherries starting role after bench goal

Josh King had to make do with a place on the bench against Swansea this weekend but the Bournemouth striker was thrilled to end a goal drought that dated back to early October.

King was Bournemouth’s leading scorer in their first season in the Premier League, but has struggled to find the back of the net this season with just two league goals prior to the clash on New Year’s Eve.

He dropped to the bench against Swansea, but came on for the last quarter of an hour and sealed the 3-0 victory with a goal two minutes from time.

That was his first goal for Eddie Howe’s side since October 1 in a 2-2 draw at Watford, and King is optimistic about his chances of forcing his way back into the starting line-up.

(Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

“It’s a good win for us,” he said.

“I started on the bench but there’s lots of games in this period, you have to take your chance when it comes.

“Everyone is there for each other and it showed, it’s tough for the manager as there’s big players in this squad and it’s tough to pick a starting 11 each week.

“I have three goals in three games against Swansea now, that’s what I told the assistant manager so maybe that was why he put me on instead of someone else!”