Callum Wilson's brace either side of a David Brooks strike ensured the Cherries would come away 3-0 victors, but plenty has changed since then. 

Tonight's fixture will instead be a top-of-the-table clash in the SkyBet Championship, a member of the away end last time out is currently Arsenal's first-choice goalkeeper and Scott Parker was into his fourth month as a member of Fulham's coaching team. 

However, the involvement of Lewis Cook is something that doesn't look set to change, the midfielder playing 80 minutes in south west London three years ago. 

Having suffered two ACL injuries in the time since, it's not been an easy ride for the 24-year-old but his most recent return to action, which came in the 4-0 win over Swansea City in early November, was one most welcomed by fans. 

Speaking to talkSPORT on Thursday, he previewed this evening's match, discussed his comeback from injury and spoke of a very memorable first encounter with the Cherries head coach. 

We picked out five key talking points from Cook ahead of the trip to Fulham. 

Tonight’s game at Craven Cottage

I think it’s going to be a great game and it’s what you want to be involved in as a player. We’re first and second in the league and, ultimately, it’s two great sides looking to get one over each other. It’s going to be great to be involved in and I’m really looking forward to it.

Both teams like having the ball, so the challenge for both teams will be trying to take control of the game. I think it’ll be an intense pressing game for both sides, so we’ll have to see what happens.

It should be a good game of football, with a lot of talent on show. It really adds to it, to the atmosphere and the environment. As I said, it’s the games you want to be involved in and, hopefully, we can get the three points.

The in-form strikers

They must be doing something right. [Aleksandar] Mitrovic has scored a lot of goals this season and everyone knows his dangers and threats. He’s a top player, so that’ll be a challenge to keep him quiet.  

We’ll be trying to do that, but we’ve got Dom too. He’s been in top form and really getting in the swing of things, scoring lots of goals. I think it’ll be a great game for everyone involved and everyone watching too.

Every individual battle on the pitch will be massive. It’s a big one for us in midfield. They’ve got some quality in there and so have we. I mentioned that both teams will want control of the game, it’s a massive part of the game, and the midfield is key for that.

Our start to the season 

Some big teams came down. When the gaffer came in pre-season, we could see the pattern of play straight away, how he wanted us to play and what he wanted from us. He’s always said to us that it’s a process, we’re still learning now, we’re still trying to improve and understand his philosophy.

I would say the start of the season was perhaps a bit of a surprise, the lads did so well and we didn’t lose for ages. As soon as the staff came in, they were on it and they knew what we wanted. It paid off because we’ve been playing good football.

I tend not to look at the league table – some players will though. Most players would say this game is the most important game because it’s the next one and I tend to focus just on that. I don’t really look at the next couple of weeks or the table, I just look at the one coming up.

Obviously, towards the end of the season, it becomes really important, but we know we’ve had a good start and we need to carry on pushing on towards this middle part of the season. Ultimately, if you don’t look at it, someone will tell you, so everyone knows where you’re at.

His relationship with the gaffer 

I did play against him – he reminded me of that when he came! When I was at Leeds, he was at Fulham and I played against him then. He was actually the first person I asked for a shirt. He gave it to me so that was a nice moment.

It’s not hung up – most footballers get shirts every week from teams and most of them probably end up on the floor. Some you might frame at the end of your career, but at the moment they’re just in a pile of shirts.

He’s someone I can look up to with the career he’s had for both club and country. I know what kind of player he was, I can try and take parts of his game into mine because he was a top player, so that’s a positive for us midfielders. 

Recovering from long-term injuries  

It’s always there. I’m always doing things to keep fit and making sure I’m available to play.

I’m still very fortunate to do the thing I love by playing football – there are people in much worse situations than I have ever been with my knee, so it’s in the back of my mind now and I’m really just focusing on the season ahead. I’m happy to be back on the grass, playing football, training every day and just enjoying it.

The first time I did it was a bit scary, the second time I just got on with it. When you’re a footballer at the highest level, you play with the risk that these things can happen. I had to make sure I could come back, I threw everything at it. I had my dark moments but there weren’t that many, I just got on with it. I’m not saying it’s easy though, it is really tough.